In a pre-match press conference leading up to the highly awaited quarter-final showdown against Guinea in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre emphasized that his team refuses to be labeled as favorites for the upcoming match.
Despite their remarkable victory over the seven-time champions Egypt in the previous round, the experienced French coach dismissed any notion of his team being considered frontrunners.
Desabre highlighted that while defeating a football powerhouse like Egypt was a significant achievement, it doesn’t automatically confer favorite status onto his team.
“For CAN, any surprises? I would say that it is the CAN of work. All eight teams qualified for the quarter-finals are good teams. This proves that football is thriving in all these countries, and that is good because it will elevate African football to the top,” he stated.
“Regarding being favorites against Guinea? No! We are not favorites against Guinea. It’s a fairly open match against a good team, with players who represent reputable clubs.
“We will formulate a game plan based on our strengths; we may adapt according to any shortcomings we can detect in their game, if there are any, as Guinea is a very well-rounded team that has delivered impressive performances. We maintain humility, acknowledging that we can still improve and have room for growth, even though we are aware of our strengths.”
