Desabre: 90 Minutes from Making History with Congo DR
The French-born coach stands on the brink of leading the Leopards to only their second World Cup appearance, 52 years after the country’s sole tournament outing
When Sebastien Desabre took charge of Congo DR three and a half years ago, he set his team one clear objective, qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Now, after a long and demanding campaign, the French-born coach finds himself just one match away from achieving that goal.
The Leopards will face either Jamaica or New Caledonia in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament in Guadalajara on 31 March. Victory would secure only the country’s second appearance at the global showpiece, following their sole outing in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire.
Before departing for Mexico, where his side will play a warm-up friendly against Bermuda on 25 March, Desabre spoke to FIFA about the challenge ahead.
“We’re really fired up,” Desabre said. “We’re still on course to meet our main objective. That’s the goal we set ourselves when I took this job. This final will be our 13th match since our qualifying campaign began. It’s definitely been a long road to get here and we’ve worked our way through every stage.”
The journey to this point has had its share of challenges, but Desabre believes those experiences have strengthened his squad.
“I can’t point to just one moment. It’s about everything we’ve been through together – the highs and the lows. Those experiences have made us stronger and more resilient, and they’ve led us to this point. After all the hard work the players and the staff have put in over the last three years, they’ve thoroughly earned it.”
Congo DR have conceded just one goal in their last four qualifying matches, highlighting the defensive organisation Desabre has instilled. However, the coach is quick to credit the team’s collective effort rather than any single department.
“Defensive solidity is the bedrock of our side, but our attacking numbers have also been good in recent matches. In Congo DR, we’re lucky enough to have talented players who ply their trade at top clubs. Above all, everyone has really bought into the project we’ve been building together.”
Team unity has become a hallmark of this Leopards side, with players forming strong bonds both on and off the pitch.
“The players share a strong bond both on and off the pitch. Everyone is pulling in the same direction to achieve a common goal. We can make it tough for our opponents because we play as a unit: our forwards track back, our defenders push forward and everyone pulls together, as if they were soldiers going into battle for their country.
“That’s what matters most to me and it’s what I ask of the players every time they go out there. We have to leave everything out on the pitch and we need to play with real aggression – in the right way, of course. We’ve got to stick together and, most of all, stay grounded.”
With the final opponent to be determined on 26 March, Desabre is preparing for either possibility while maintaining focus on his own team’s performance.
“We’re not afraid of anyone. We’re going to give it our all. As a minimum, we need to replicate the kind of performance we delivered against Nigeria. We know all about Jamaica and New Caledonia. We’ve been scouting them. We’ll also have the chance to watch them play over in Mexico, but, for now, we’re focusing on our own players.”
The magnitude of the occasion is not lost on Desabre, who understands what qualification would mean for a football-mad nation.
“We all want to go to the World Cup, but we can’t let our emotions or the magnitude of the occasion get the better of us. In the end, what matters is playing well, keeping our feet on the ground and giving everything we’ve got out on the pitch. We need to focus and perform well on the day to get the job done and make Congo proud.
“That’s what it’s all about for us. The Congolese are passionate about football and some of them are going through difficult times. I know that the whole nation will come to a standstill on 31 March so people can watch the match. We hope we can give our fans the lift they deserve.”
For Desabre personally, leading a team to the World Cup would represent the culmination of a coaching journey that has taken him across Africa, with spells in France, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
“It would be recognition for all the hard work put in by everyone, my coaching staff, the players and myself. When I took the reins three and a half years ago, the team had hit a rough patch, but I believed in them straight away, even when few others did. Now we have the chance to reach the World Cup. We’re within touching distance of our aim, we’re brimming with confidence and this team has real mental toughness, but, right now, we can’t take anything for granted.”
Reflecting on his international coaching experience, Desabre added: “That experience has already served me well in my role coaching this Congo DR team over the last three years. I hope that’s going to continue and that I’ll get to experience the World Cup as a coach. In the end, it’s still football, and we’ll have to earn the win on the day. We trust in our abilities but we know it won’t be easy. You have to respect every opponent.”
Like many football fans, Desabre has his own cherished World Cup memories, including France’s victory on home soil in 1998 and the tournament in South Africa in 2010.
“When you’ve loved football since childhood, certain moments inevitably stay with you, especially from the tournaments you watched with your family. A couple of things come to mind. The first was when the competition was held in South Africa, simply because it took place in Africa. The curtain raiser made a real impact on me.
“Of course, there’s also France’s victory in the 1998 World Cup final. We were lucky to witness this in our lifetime. I was 22 years old and I was able to follow every second of Les Bleus’ campaign. In fact, every World Cup produces extraordinary moments.”
Now Desabre has the chance to create such moments for a new generation of Congolese football fans. The final hurdle awaits in Guadalajara, with 90 minutes separating his team from a place at the world’s biggest sporting event.