Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium is today hosting a clash that could shape the destiny of Group A at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s home-based Leopards, two-time champions, are taking on Angola’s Palancas Negras in a match where the stakes could not be higher, survival for one side and a potential quarter-final ticket for the other.
For DR Congo, their CHAN 2024 journey began with optimism after head coach Otis Ngoma named a formidable 36-man preliminary squad dominated by domestic giants TP Mazembe, FC Lupopo, AS Maniema Union, and AC Rangers.
Veterans like Oscar Kabwit and Faveurdi Bongeli promised experience, while emerging stars such as Tonny Madudu Talasi and Jephté Kitambala added flair. The goal was clear — reclaim the continental crown they last lifted in 2016.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
Drawn into what was quickly dubbed the “Group of Death” alongside hosts Kenya, Morocco, Angola, and Zambia, the Leopards’ campaign began shakily.
In their opening fixture, they fell short against Morocco’s well-drilled outfit, failing to capitalise on key chances in a game that exposed their need for sharper finishing.
The wake-up call came against Zambia, where the Leopards rediscovered their bite. A commanding 3-1 victory reminded the continent why DR Congo remains one of CHAN’s most feared sides.
Goals came with purpose, the midfield pressed intelligently, and the defence showed discipline under pressure. Assistant coach Daouda Lupembe, standing in for the ailing Ngoma, rotated the squad, giving fringe players a chance to prove their worth while keeping the core intact.
“The first objective was to give playing time to those who had not yet played. This allowed us to see what each could bring and to consider rearrangements compared to the team aligned against Zambia,” Lupembe explained.
That win breathed life into their campaign, but Group A remains brutally tight. Morocco, Angola, and DRC are all still in contention, with Kenya’s earlier results complicating the permutations. For DRC, avoiding defeat against Angola keeps their hopes alive; for Angola, victory would guarantee a quarter-final berth.
Lupembe knows the danger Angola poses. “It will be difficult because in front of us, we will have a team at the top of their 3-4-3. They can hurt at any time. It is up to us to be focused in the midfield especially,” he said.
“Football is played on details. You can work on many things, but you can never reduce the uncertainties of football.”
He has urged his players to embrace the pressure. “Being afraid of qualification is normal. But being afraid of losing is what leads to defeat. We must take this pressure positively it must motivate us,” he said.
Angola having drawn 1-1 with Kenya and edged Zambia 2-1, they have crafted a disciplined, quick-transition side that can punish lapses instantly. This will be their final group match meaning no holding back.
DR Congo, meanwhile, know their pedigree counts for nothing without results. The nation’s rich CHAN history, with titles in 2009 and 2016, is both an inspiration and a weight.
Missing out on the 2022 edition has made this campaign all the more important, and the players are aware that the “Republic is behind these young people,” as Lupembe put it.
The Leopards will need to summon the tactical discipline that beat Zambia and the attacking hunger that once made them continental kings. A win would throw Group A wide open, a draw would keep them in the race, and a loss could see them crash out.