In the world of African football, the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) represent a crucial moment for national teams. It is in this context that the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo closed the qualifiers for the CAN Morocco 2025 by facing the Walya of Ethiopia. Despite a recent defeat against the Syli National, the Congolese had to get back in the saddle to preserve their reputation one year before the prestigious tournament.
The coach, Desabre, emphasizes the importance of remaining positive despite the setbacks encountered. He highlights the work accomplished by his team and underlines the opportunity offered by this home match to restore their reputation. In this perspective, the coach must juggle different parameters, while giving a chance to new players and preserving the team’s executives.
The match against Ethiopia offers the opportunity for the young talents of the Leopards’ den to show themselves. Names such as Noah Sadiki, Ngal’ayel Mukau, Nathanaël Mbuku, Oscar Kabwit, Thimothy Fayulu, William Balikwisha and Rocky Bushiri will be able to take on the role of starters and demonstrate their worth on the pitch. These players, not used to being in the starting eleven, will be keen to show the full extent of their talent.
The turnover announced by Desabre underlines the desire for renewal within the Congolese team. This match is the ideal opportunity to test new associations and allow certain players to shine. The context of the Martyrs stadium, with its synthetic pitch, represents an additional challenge for the players, who will have to adapt to these particular conditions.
Beyond the result of this match without stakes for Ethiopia, the objective of the Leopards is to continue their progression and to prepare as best as possible for the next deadline. The youth of the team, combined with the experience of the executives, promises a bright future for Congolese football. These international matches are the perfect opportunity to reveal new talents and strengthen cohesion within the group.
In conclusion, the Leopards can approach this last match of the qualifiers with confidence, aware of the challenges to come. Each match is an opportunity to progress and strengthen in view of future competitions. African football is full of talents to discover, and the Congolese team seems ready to take on all the challenges that will present themselves on the road to success.