DR Congo coach Desabre target second straight win in AFCON 2027 qualifiers

DR Congo Sébastien Desabre has set sights on securing second consecutive victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as the team gears up for the Zimbabwe showdown.

The Leopards opened their Group E campaign with a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa on September 24, giving Sébastien Desabre’s side an early boost as they pursue qualification for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Having collected all three points in their opening fixture, DR Congo have quickly turned their attention to their second assignment against Zimbabwe, with Desabre making it clear that his team has a defined objective for the qualifying campaign.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the French coach insisted that the Leopards are taking a measured approach to the campaign while targeting maximum points from their fixtures.

“We have a clear roadmap. We’ll take each match as it comes. The aim is to secure all 12 points as quickly as possible,” Desabre said.

The statement underlines the ambitions of a DR Congo side determined to make a strong start and put themselves in a favourable position in the group as early as possible.

Their 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea provided the perfect opening, but Desabre knows the challenge will be different in Harare, where Zimbabwe will be eager to make the most of home advantage.

The Warriors also began their qualifying campaign with three points, leaving both teams level on three points ahead of Monday’s meeting.

That makes the encounter particularly significant, as the winner will move onto six points and gain an early advantage in Group E.

DR Congo will therefore be hoping to maintain the momentum generated by their opening victory while producing another disciplined performance away from home.

Desabre has urged his players to remain focused and approach the campaign one match at a time, despite the ambition of collecting maximum points as quickly as possible.

The Leopards will now have the opportunity to strengthen their position at the top end of the group when they take on Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Monday, September 28.

With both sides sitting on three points, the clash promises to be an important early test for DR Congo as they seek to turn their perfect start into sustained momentum in the race for a place at the 2027 AFCON.