DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre has shouldered the full weight of the Leopards’ exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a crushing 1-0 defeat to Algeria on Tuesday night.
The Round of 16 clash at the Moulay Hassan Stadium appeared destined for penalties until Algeria’s substitute Adil Boulbina struck a spectacular “screamer” in the 119th minute, sending the Fennec Foxes through to the quarterfinals and leaving the Congolese side stunned.
Speaking in the aftermath of the late-game heartbreak, a somber Desabre refused to deflect criticism toward his players.
“My share of responsibility is total,” the Frenchman stated. “When we lose, it’s the coach who loses; when we win, it’s the players who win. We have to analyze, not be afraid, look at what happened. It came down to details, and that wasn’t enough to win.”
While the Leopards squandered several chances to settle the game in regulation time, Desabre praised the grit shown by his squad.
“The players gave everything on the pitch, they fought until the very end, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” he added. “We are disappointed because we had chances to score and we didn’t take them.”
Despite the early exit—a regression from their fourth-place finish in the previous edition—Desabre’s position appears secure.
Unlike other managers who have already faced the sack during this tournament, Desabre holds significant credit in the bank.
Just months prior, he led DR Congo to a historic victory over Nigeria on penalties to win the 2025 FIFA World Cup African play-offs.
That success earned the Leopards a spot in the crucial FIFA International Play-offs scheduled for March.
With their AFCON dreams extinguished, Desabre is already pivoting toward the upcoming global qualifiers. The disappointment in Rabat is being viewed as a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal of World Cup qualification.
“We need to analyze what worked and what didn’t, and focus on the objective that awaits us in March,” Desabre concluded. “Today, things didn’t go our way, that’s just how it is.”
The Leopards will now return home to regroup before their high-stakes fixtures in two months’ time, where a place at the prestigious FIFA World Cup remains on the line.
