The Leopards of the DRC qualify for the final phase of CAN Ivory Coast 2023
On Saturday September 9, the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo faced the Nile Crocodiles of Sudan at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa. In a highly anticipated match, the Leopards managed to win with a final score of two goals to zero, thus qualifying for the final phase of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
From the 7th minute of play, Theo Bongonda opened the scoring for the DRC thanks to an assist from Nickel. This first goal allowed the Leopards to gain confidence and dominate the match. However, they then slowed down, leaving the suspense hanging until the 87th minute when Fiston Kalala scored the second Congolese goal, thus sealing the victory for his team.
This qualification of the Leopards for the final phase of CAN Ivory Coast 2023 is the result of hard work and remarkable determination on the part of the players and technical management. This victory also testifies to the progress made by Congolese football in recent years.
According to Me Guy Kabeya Mwana Kalala, vice-president of the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA), this qualification is the result of a strategy put in place by the federation to develop Congolese football and encourage young talents. He also underlines the importance of supporting the Leopards financially and logistically in order to allow them to prepare in the best conditions for the final phase of the CAN.
Max Mokey, president of Football club MK and vice-president of the Association of Congo Football Managers (ADFCO), insists on the importance of team spirit and solidarity within the Leopards team. He underlines that this qualification is the result of real collective work and highlights the talent and determination of the players who were able to make the difference during this decisive match.
For Colin Dibondo, sports analyst and consultant at Radio Okapi, this qualification of the Leopards represents a great opportunity for Congolese football to showcase itself on the international scene. He emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on this success and continuing to work to improve the team’s performance.
In conclusion, the qualification of the Leopards of the DRC for the final phase of CAN Ivory Coast 2023 is excellent news for Congolese football. It testifies to the talent and determination of the players, but also to the effectiveness of the strategies put in place by the federation to develop football in the country. The Leopards will now have the opportunity to compete against the best African teams during the final phase of the CAN, and hopefully, to achieve good performances.