A bittersweet CHAN campaign for Congo
Congo’s A’ Red Devils arrived home nursing mixed feelings after finishing bottom of their pool at the eighth African Nations Championship. A 0-2 loss to Nigeria in the final group match proved fatal, despite earlier draws against Sudan and eventual semi-finalists Senegal.
Coach Barthélémy Ngatsono’s men showed grit in flashes, leading early or matching opponents technically, yet fading late on. Supporters who gathered in Brazzaville’s Makékélé district at dawn to watch the decisive tie on small screens admitted pride in the effort but frustration at the outcome.
What went wrong in Algeria
Inside the delegation, players agree that preparation lacked edge. The squad went to CHAN without a single high-level international friendly, limiting tactical rehearsals and automatic reflexes needed in tournament crunch time.
Team analyst Rodrigue Kifoueti believes an unfinished domestic calendar also sapped rhythm, explaining that most League 1 players had logged fewer than six competitive matches over two months. “Match tempo cannot be simulated in camp,” he noted after landing at Maya-Maya Airport.
Logistical hiccups compounded the issue. Visa delays during the final week forced a shortened acclimatisation window in Oran, where Congo played two fixtures in quick succession. Several starters spoke of muscle tightness and late-game cramps that medical staff struggled to treat adequately.
Fécofoot strikes a constructive tone
On 17 September, federation president Jean Guy Blaise Mayolas welcomed the squad and staff at headquarters off Avenue des Trois Martyrs. Rather than dwell on elimination, he underlined positives and urged immediate projection toward forthcoming qualifiers.
“You begin matches well, but you finish them poorly,” he told the group, stressing that CHAN has grown into the continent’s most demanding stage behind AFCON. Mayolas promised to secure more rigorous test matches, citing talks with counterparts in Gabon and Benin for friendlies before December.
The executive committee applauded the players’ resilience amid an unusual build-up that saw Congo qualify on the pitch, then briefly disqualified on paperwork before a successful appeal. “You passed through three storms and still competed,” vice-president Sylvie Ibata reminded the group.
Mapping the comeback trail
Technical director Césaire Gandzé outlined a three-pillar roadmap: weekly fitness monitoring throughout the domestic season, a minimum of four internationals before the next CHAN qualifiers, and earlier foreign-camp arrivals to offset travel fatigue.
Strength coach Marc Ngoma has already scheduled joint sessions with police-club Inter Club to test a new GPS-based workload tracker. “Microchips in bibs are cheaper now; we can collect sprint data and adapt drills accordingly,” he explained, pointing to Rwanda’s recent success with similar technology.
Fécofoot equally pledged continued dialogue with the Ministry of Sports to upgrade residency allowances, a factor athletes say influences focus. Sources inside the ministry confirmed a draft decree raising daily stipends from 15 000 to 22 000 FCFA for national-team duty.
Smarter career moves for home-grown stars
Beyond the national jersey, Mayolas addressed club transfer choices. A trend sees young Congolese talent signing short deals in Oman or lower-tier Asian leagues, chasing quick pay but returning sidelined. “I have not seen a player prosper through that corridor,” he warned, encouraging domestic stars to target structured academies in North Africa or France instead.
Midfielder Gloire Bissila, 23, took the message to heart, revealing talks with Tunisian side Club Africain. “I want to grow where competition is fierce and scouts watch every weekend,” he said, adding that a solid championship at home remains the best shop window.
League 1 secretaries present backed the stance, noting that keeping athletes active in Congo until age 22 helps maintain national-team chemistry. However, they also urged the federation to accelerate broadcasting deals so clubs can afford better wages and reduce the lure of hasty exits.
Fans keep the faith
Social media reaction in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire was largely supportive. Hashtags like #ToujoursDiables trended for 48 hours, with many users praising the group’s humility after greeting supporters at airport arrivals rather than via private exits.
Street vendor Clarisse Ndinga, who painted her stall red and green during the tournament, said the players’ transparency softens disappointment. “They didn’t hide, they spoke to us live on Instagram. That honesty makes us believe next time will be different,” she smiled between customers.
Local radio pundit Patrick Oba predicts the team’s youthful core will blossom. “Seventy percent of this squad will still be eligible in two years; the experience gained against Nigeria’s robust defence is priceless,” he analysed during his morning show on Radio Congo.
Eyes on upcoming qualifiers
The immediate horizon is the preliminary round of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, slated to draw in February. Fécofoot intends to maintain Ngatsono at the helm, valuing continuity and allowing the staff to implement lessons learnt.
Players resume league action this weekend, with AC Léopards hosting CARA in Dolisie under expectant eyes. Scouts from the Congolese diaspora in France and Belgium have confirmed attendance, searching for prospects as winter transfer windows approach.
As training gear was packed away at federation offices, defender Prince M’Vouo summed up the collective mood: “We stumbled, not fell. Give us real tests, and you’ll see our true face.” His teammates nodded, already visualising the next kickoff.
What supporters should watch
Fans seeking to follow the rebuild can stream League 1 matches on Télé Congo’s digital platform every Saturday evening. Fécofoot also launched a WhatsApp hotline for ticket updates, aiming to simplify stadium attendance in Brazzaville and Owando.
Merchandise outlets have restocked replica shirts embroidered with the campaign slogan “Au-delà des Limites”. Proceeds fund a planned U-17 academy in Oyo, reinforcing the federation’s strategy of investing at grassroots while keeping senior ambitions high.
For now, the message from authorities, staff, and terraces aligns: lessons learned, heads held high, next challenge already circled on the calendar. Congo’s A’ Red Devils leave CHAN humbled but hungrier, determined to script a brighter chapter in national football lore.
