At 68, Ngatsono is no stranger to high-pressure encounters and this one could define his teams tournament. Seated alongside him was forward Japhet Mankou, both men calm but focused on what could be Congos most significant CHAN fixture to date.
After the Sudan game, we took away both positives and negatives, Barthlemy said. But weve trained with full awareness of whats at stake against Senegal. We didnt come here just to watch others lift the trophy. Like every other team, were here for results.
Grouped in a fiercely competitive Group D, Congo was seen by many as outsiders. But with two quarterfinal appearances in their CHAN history and a growing sense of belief, they are anything but pushovers. Now in their fourth appearance at the tournament, Congo seems ready to flip the script.
Mankou echoed his coachs mindset, downplaying individual heroics in favor of collective grit. Its not about one player. Its about the team. We have to unite and give everything for the win, he said.
When asked if the tie symbolized a battle of domestic leagues, Mankou responded with focus: Its not about the leagues, this is Congo versus Senegal. Were fully committed to executing our game plan and following the instructions of our technical staff.
Barthlemy also noted that the match scheduling could prove advantageous as the group progresses: The game spacing helps teams in Group D. It gives us better recovery time and more preparation for each match.
A victory for Senegal would seal their place in the next round with six points, while a win for Congo would take them to four, blowing the group wide open and setting the stage for a thrilling finale. Senegalese head coach Souleymane Diallo has warned his players against complacency, describing the match as a potential trap and urging focus despite their favorites tag.
Kickoff is scheduled for 13h GMT 16h local time in Zanzibar City, Tanzania, where all eyes will be on what promises to be a gripping CHAN encounter, one where Congo has a chance to make history.