Title: The Leopards of the DRC fail at the gates of the CAN 2023 final
Introduction :
In a thrilling encounter, the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) saw their hopes of qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final dashed. Facing a determined Ivorian team, the Congolese failed to maintain their initial advantage and were ultimately beaten. Despite this disappointment, their performance in this competition deserves to be praised. Let’s look back at the highlights of this intense match and analyze the reasons for their elimination.
A promising start followed by a turnaround:
From the kick-off, the Leopards showed great determination, creating several scoring chances. Although Cedric Bakambu’s goal was disallowed for an offside position, the Congolese team seemed to have the situation under control. However, the sustained pace imposed by the Ivorians ended up shaking the Congolese defense.
The physical impact of Franck Kessié, in midfield, was decisive in this turnaround. His duel with the return to form of Gaël Kakuta unbalanced the Congolese midfielder, with Pickel and Moutoussamy overwhelmed. The energy displayed by Kessié was impressive and allowed his team to take control of the match.
A legitimate disappointment but lessons to be learned:
French coach Sébastien Desabre expressed his disappointment after the match. He recognizes that the nature of the match led to this result, with his team losing momentum in the second half. However, he also emphasizes that this semi-final journey is an opportunity to learn and progress for the Congolese team.
The Leopards’ competitive history in this competition should not be overlooked. Despite the disappointment of not reaching the final, they showed their value and their ability to compete with the best teams on the continent. A bronze medal, as in 2015, is still within reach, in case of victory in the third place match against South Africa.
Conclusion :
The Leopards of the DRC showed great combativeness throughout the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite their elimination in the semi-final, their performance deserves to be saluted. The lessons learned from this competition will be valuable for the Congolese team in their future progression.