AFCON 2023: Sebastien Desabre targets bronze against South Africa

Sebastien Desabre in a press conference|COURTESY

AFCON 2023: Sebastien Desabre targets bronze against South Africa

Allan Damba • 10:49 - 10.02.2024

For Desabre, this small final will also be an opportunity to leave the competition favorably: “We have to leave on a positive note."

Sebastien Desabre's Democratic Republic of Congo will be looking to bowing out in style of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, when they battle South Africa later on Saturday.

Both sides were knocked out of the title race during the semi-finals where Bafana Bafana were edged 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Nigeria, while DR Congo lost by a slim 1-0 margin against hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.

Sebastien Desabre|COURTESY

While both sides will be disappointed with the semi-final exit, the third and fourth place play off presents the perfect opportunity for either side to go home with the consolation of being the third best team of the competition.

“My most beautiful memory in this enclosure is the semi-final against l'Africa that we won with ASEC Mimosas, during the Coupe de Côte d'Ivoire, about ten years ago . I won’t hide it from you, I can’t wait to be there and see the improved renovations,” Desabre was quoted by CAF.

For Desabre, this small final will also be an opportunity to leave the competition favorably: “We have to leave on a positive note."

"We have come a long way, we have shown good things and we do not want a grain of sand to derail the machine. We will give everything to bring this medal home and present it to the Congolese people who are passionate about football."

“We still have room for improvement to make. The results will be positive and we will do everything in place to improve this national team for the years to come.”