DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre says his side are targeting all 12 available points as they look to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as quickly as possible.
The Leopards travel to Harare to face Zimbabwe on Monday, September 28, with both sides entering the Group E encounter on three points after winning their opening fixtures.
DR Congo began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea in Kinshasa on Thursday, while Zimbabwe came from two goals behind to beat Sierra Leone 3-2.
Speaking at a news conference in Harare on Sunday alongside Nathanaël Mbuku, Desabre said his team had a clear plan for the qualifying campaign and would focus on collecting points as quickly as possible.
“We have a precise roadmap. We will approach the matches one after another. The objective is to take these 12 points as quickly as possible.”
The Frenchman also made clear that qualification itself remains the principal objective for the Leopards.
“The objective is to qualify for the AFCON as quickly as possible.”
DR Congo’s opening victory provided an ideal start to the campaign.
Chancel Mbemba put the Leopards ahead after just four minutes when he headed home from a set piece delivered by Mbuku.
Yoane Wissa doubled the advantage after the interval to complete the scoring.
DR Congo also struck the woodwork twice during the match as they secured the three points.
Desabre’s team now face a Zimbabwe side that demonstrated its own ability to fight back in the opening round of matches.
The Warriors trailed Sierra Leone 2-0 before recovering to win 3-2, ensuring they also began their campaign with three points.
Monday’s meeting therefore brings together the two teams that made winning starts in Group E.
For DR Congo, the match presents an opportunity to continue the momentum created by their victory over Equatorial Guinea and move closer to Desabre’s stated target.
There is also a significant historical factor surrounding the fixture.
DR Congo have never won an official match away to Zimbabwe in Harare.
Their three previous visits to the Zimbabwean capital produced two defeats and one draw. They lost 2-1 in 1994 and 3-2 in 2000 before drawing 1-1 in 2018.
However, the most recent meeting between the nations produced a convincing victory for DR Congo.
The Leopards defeated Zimbabwe 4-0 on June 30, 2019, although that match was played in Cairo during the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Desabre will now attempt to lead DR Congo to their first away victory over Zimbabwe in Harare while keeping his side’s qualification campaign on course.
Both teams have three points after the opening round, making Monday’s fixture an important early contest in the group.
DR Congo will be seeking to maintain their position at the top of the group and add another three points to their tally.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their comeback against Sierra Leone and make their home advantage count at the National Sports Stadium.
For Desabre, the immediate focus is on taking the qualifying matches one at a time while working towards a rapid route to the tournament.
The coach has set his players a clear target: collect the available points as quickly as possible and secure their place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations without unnecessary delay.
The encounter in Harare will provide the next test of that plan as two unbeaten sides meet after winning their opening matches.
