AFCON: Senegal coach Thiaw braces for difficult DRC

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has told his players to be ready for a difficult match on Saturday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

Thiaw, as quoted by Congo’s news outlet FootRDC, expects a demanding encounter from the Leopards; hence, the Lions coach called for his side to be cautious and focus more on the task at hand.

“All matches are important for us. We are preparing for this match as we are preparing all the other teams. The match against Congo will be good opposition. It’s a difficult match that awaits us. We have to prepare well and arm ourselves to go for the win,” Thiaw said.

The Group D favorites will go into the game with a spring in their step after opening AFCON with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Botswana earlier in the week. The result saw the 2021 AFCON champions move atop the group on a better goal-difference over the DRC, who also won their match against Benin earlier in the week.

Leopards coach Desabre braces for difficult Senegal

As expected, former Liverpool FC star Sadio Mane is expected to lead the Lions of Teranga in attack while ex-Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is among the players to watch for the Congolese in Tangier.

Ahead of the match, coach Sébastien Desabre’s team told his charges what it would take for them to overcome a fancied opponent.

“If we want to beat Senegal, we will have to play, take risks and assume our game. We have very interesting phases of possession when we are well connected, like in the play-offs,” explained the French coach in a press conference.

Botswana and Benin anchor the group without a point, let alone a goal and a win since they started qualifying for the AFCON finals.