Democratic Republic of Congo’s march into the knockout phase of the World Cup represents the payoff of a long-running plan aimed at restoring fortunes for one of the sport’s most closely watched, and most populous, countries.
DR Congo will play England in Atlanta on Wednesday in the round of 32 after finishing the group stage in dramatic style. The team recovered from being behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1, then ended the group stage as the top finisher among the third-placed sides.
Sebastien Desabre has been among the continent’s longest-serving coaches, with his approach backed by a four-year programme built around three major competitions.
In much of Africa, national-team managers generally have far shorter windows to deliver results than their counterparts elsewhere, unless they lift a trophy or at least come close.
Desabre guided Congo to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in 2024, two years after they had failed to qualify for the previous edition in neighbouring Cameroon.
Speaking about how he secured patience for his project, Desabre said: “We had to work hard to convince and try and present our project.”
He added: “You can’t do it alone. I had a group of amazing players. I’m so lucky to have so many excellent players but who are also excellent people, ready to give everything for Congo, and that was important.”
Desabre seldom changed personnel, instead trusting a stable core of players who had been together for longer than is typical in African football’s fast-moving environment.
He explained: “We maintained the same players because we knew what we wanted from them and how to get on with the project.”
A second Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco around the start of the year did not end in the same success. Congo were knocked out in the round of 16 after conceding late, with a last-gasp goal against Algeria ending their run.
Even so, by that stage they were close to sealing World Cup qualification after a gap of more than half a century, and the federation allowed Desabre to keep working.
‘Behind me is Miami Stadium, where on Friday, the smallest nation that ever qualified for the World Cup knockout stages faces the
Last September, there had been fresh talk of Desabre’s future after his team squandered a two-goal advantage and fell to a 3-2 defeat at home to Senegal in a key World Cup qualifier. The loss sparked a stadium riot in Kinshasa.
They ultimately missed out on direct qualification, but still earned a place in the African play-offs as one of the best four runners-up from the nine qualifying groups. In November, during a tournament in Morocco, Congo pulled off unexpected wins over both Cameroon and Nigeria.
“When you set a goal and you start working at it 100%, positive things happen,” said the 49-year-old French coach.
DR Congo then travelled to the inter-confederation qualifiers in Guadalajara, Mexico, in March, where they edged Jamaica in extra time to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
“In terms of goals we set, we have reached them and we are proud of that,” Desabre said.
