DR Congo’s head coach, Sébastien Desabre, expressed confidence in his team’s quest for an Africa Cup of Nations victory after securing their first win against Guinea in the quarter-finals.

The Leopards, previously drawing all four group stage games, triumphed 3-1, setting the stage for a semi-final clash with hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Desabre highlighted the significance of the timing, stating, “This victory comes at the right time as we are gaining momentum in the competition. We won, we drew, but did not lose.”

Despite acknowledging the difficulty, he emphasised the team’s belief in reaching the final and admitted, “It would be foolish not to believe in the final victory.”

Confident in his squad’s attacking prowess, Desabre mentioned key forwards Bakambu, Banza, and Mayele Fiston. “We have forwards… We know it was a matter of time before we succeeded,” he asserted.

With the team’s momentum and dreams of the ultimate prize, Desabre expressed his determination, saying, “When you reach the semi-finals, you first want to reach the final. And if you have the chance to reach the final, you want to win it. We will do everything to have no regrets.”

As DR Congo’s AFCON journey unfolds, the coach and the team are daring to dream of a glorious ending to their tournament fairytale.