The Democratic Republic of Congo football team and the Ethiopian team faced each other in an epic match at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa. Although the Leopards of the DRC ended up losing 1-2 to the Walya of Ethiopia, the intensity and commitment of both teams marked this encounter.
The Congolese selection, already qualified for the next African Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco, faced an Ethiopian team determined to finish the qualifying phase with dignity. Despite the lack of stakes for the Leopards, who had fielded a B team, the Ethiopian players showed great motivation and remarkable fighting spirit.
The Ethiopian team’s first goal came in the 36th minute, when B. Desta Dana found the back of the net by exploiting a gap in the Congolese defense. However, the Leopards managed to equalize at the very end of the match thanks to Batubinsika, before conceding a second goal in the final moments of the game.
The national coach of the DRC, Sébastien Désabre, expressed his disappointment with this result, but highlighted the performance of his players throughout the qualifiers. Despite a few defeats, the Congolese team was able to show a great team spirit and promising potential for the upcoming competitions.
In Group H of the qualifiers, the DRC largely dominates with 12 points, followed by Tanzania and Guinea. Unfortunately, Ethiopia finds itself in last position and will not participate in the next CAN. This defeat ends its journey for this edition, but the team can nevertheless draw positive lessons from this competition.
Beyond the final result, this meeting between the DRC and Ethiopia demonstrated the passion and commitment of the players to proudly represent their country on the international stage. The moments of competition and camaraderie experienced on the pitch remain a testament to the richness of African football and its ability to bring people together around a shared passion.
Ultimately, despite the defeat, the Ethiopian team can be proud of its journey and the values of solidarity and determination it displayed during these qualifiers. This suggests a promising future for Ethiopian football and an opportunity to bounce back in the next international competitions.