Senegal coach Pape Thiaw insists victory Is the only option against DR Congo

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has declared that nothing short of victory will be acceptable when the Lions of Teranga face the Democratic Republic of Congo in a decisive 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Stade des Martyrs on Tuesday.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Thiaw, joined by captain Kalidou Koulibaly, underlined the significance of the encounter as Senegal aim to leapfrog DR Congo in the group standings.

With the Leopards leading the table, only three points would be enough for Senegal to keep their qualification hopes firmly alive.

“It will be a difficult match against a good Congolese team, but we came with ambition,” Thiaw said. “We are here to collect points. We are Senegal, and we are here to win.

The DRC are the favourites because they are top of the group, but our responsibility as Senegal is to rise to these challenges. Everywhere we go, we carry expectations, and tomorrow will be no different.”

Senegal, who have previously appeared at the World Cup in 2002, 2018 and 2022, are determined to return to football’s biggest stage once more.

Thiaw reminded his players and fans alike of the painful lesson learned in the first meeting between the two sides earlier in the campaign, when Senegal conceded a late goal in Dakar to draw 1-1.

“That match still hurts because we let a victory slip away in the final minutes,” he admitted. “But this team has grown since then.

We now know how to manage our advantage, and tomorrow our goal will be to win without conceding.”

The coach was pressed on how he plans to address the absence of key defender Moussa Niakhaté, who has been ruled out of the fixture.

Thiaw declined to reveal specific details about his defensive line-up but confirmed that both Niakhaté and forward Ismaila Sarr will not feature.

“We will find the right balance at the back,” he said. “What matters most is that whoever plays gives everything for the team. We have the quality to cope with these absences.”

Senegal enter the fixture with momentum after a 2-0 victory over Sudan in their previous qualifier, a result that restored confidence within the squad.

Yet Thiaw was quick to stress that facing DR Congo away in Kinshasa presents a much greater challenge, not only because of the quality of the opposition but also due to the intense atmosphere expected at the Stade des Martyrs.

Kalidou Koulibaly, seated alongside his coach, echoed the message of determination and resilience. “We know what is at stake,” the veteran defender said.

“The World Cup means everything to us and to our supporters. We will fight for every ball and play with the pride of representing Senegal.”

For Thiaw, the equation is simple: victory or nothing. A win would put Senegal in control of their destiny, while any other result would leave their path to the 2026 finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico far more complicated.

“Our dream is clear,” he concluded. “We want to be at the World Cup again, and we want to give our people reason to celebrate. To do that, we must win in Kinshasa.”