Democratic Republic of the Congo coach Sébastien Desabre says his side gained valuable lessons from their two-match friendly series against Uganda despite ending the Johannesburg camp without a win.
The Leopards drew 1-1 in the second meeting after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the opening game, but Desabre was more concerned with assessing his squad than the results.
The Frenchman used the two fixtures to examine several players and provide international experience to newcomers as DR Congo prepare for their next competitive assignments.
With international windows offering limited opportunities for experimentation, Desabre regarded the camp as an important chance to examine his options in a match environment.
“It was truly a chance to assess the players. It’s the only opportunity we have,” he explained.
The coach’s decision to make frequent changes to his line-up was part of that assessment process, with Desabre accepting that the approach could affect the team’s results and overall performance.
“We learned a lot this week, whether positive or less positive. But we knew why we were there,” he said.
The two games against Uganda allowed Desabre to look beyond established players and assess alternatives in several positions.
One of the main areas of experimentation was the holding midfield role, where the coach tested different options during the international break.
Samuel Moutoussamy, who had struggled to make a significant impact against Equatorial Guinea, responded strongly in the subsequent match against Zimbabwe.
He produced a technically clean performance with greater attacking influence and completed his display with a well-taken goal, offering Desabre another option in midfield.
The coach also handed responsibility in front of the defence to Ezechiel Banzuzi and Brandon Ndezi during the two matches against Uganda.
Both players were used as the first outlets in front of the defensive line, with Banzuzi taking up the role during the first half of the opening match before increasing his influence further.
Ndezi was then given the opportunity in the return fixture.
Their performances provided Desabre and his coaching staff with further information as they consider their midfield options for future competitive matches.
There was also a debut for Jorthy Mokio in the second encounter, with the young player making an immediate impression during his first appearance for the national team.
The decision to expose less experienced players was central to the purpose of the camp.
Desabre acknowledged that international newcomers could experience difficult moments when stepping into the national team, but he was prepared to accept those challenges as part of their development.
For DR Congo, the two matches therefore served as more than simply a pair of friendly results.
The camp gave Desabre an opportunity to examine the depth of his squad, particularly in midfield, while allowing players with limited international experience to adjust to the demands of playing for the Leopards.
Although the 2-0 defeat and 1-1 draw against Uganda will not have produced the results Desabre would ideally have wanted, the coach believes the information gathered will prove useful.
With competitive fixtures ahead, the French coach now has a clearer picture of several players competing for positions in his squad.
The performances of Moutoussamy, Banzuzi, Ndezi and debutant Mokio will give Desabre more options as DR Congo continue preparing for their next challenges.
