Zimbabwe coach Ramon Catalá says his side must focus on what happens on the pitch rather than be intimidated by the reputations of DR Congo’s international players when the teams meet in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Warriors host the Leopards at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Monday, with both sides looking to build on winning starts to their Group campaign.
Zimbabwe opened their qualifying campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sierra Leone after recovering from two goals down. Marshall Munetsi scored twice as the Warriors completed the comeback and claimed three points.
DR Congo also began their campaign with a win, defeating Equatorial Guinea 2-0.
The results leave both teams on three points before their meeting in Harare, making the fixture an early opportunity for either side to establish an advantage in the group.
Catalá has acknowledged the quality within the DR Congo squad, with several of their internationals playing in major European leagues.
The Spanish coach had previously described DR Congo as a “big team” and said his coaching staff had analysed the Leopards through a number of videos before the qualifying campaign began.
However, Catalá insists the experience and club status of DR Congo’s players will have little significance once the match begins.
“We respect their players and we know them well. They all play in major leagues, but that’s on paper. On the pitch, it’s 90 minutes, eleven against eleven. We will try to be as good as them,” he said.
Catalá’s message is aimed at ensuring his players approach the match without an inferiority complex, despite the quality of the opposition.
The Zimbabwe coach is also looking to the home crowd to play an important role when the Warriors make their first home appearance of the campaign.
Together with captain Marvelous Nakamba, he has urged supporters to attend in large numbers and provide backing for the team at the National Sports Stadium.
“The emotional aspect is very important. I think the supporters will help us a lot and we believe that we will have our opportunities,” the coach said.
Catalá believes support from the stands can form part of a broader sense of unity involving the players, supporters, football authorities and media.
He wants all those groups to work towards the same objective as Zimbabwe attempt to reach the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The coach is also using the dramatic victory over Sierra Leone as an example of the mentality he wants to see against DR Congo.
Zimbabwe appeared to be heading for defeat after conceding twice but refused to give up and eventually turned the match around.
“What we took from that match was the spirit of the team and the players, that determination not to give up and to keep going until the end,” he explained.
That resilience will now face another test against a DR Congo side that also secured three points in its opening fixture.
With both teams having won their first matches, Monday’s encounter gives either side the chance to strengthen its position early in the qualifying campaign.
For Catalá, however, the wider target remains qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
“With unity among everyone—the supporters, the players, the federation and the media—we can achieve results and, ultimately, qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, which is our main objective,” he said.
The match in Harare will therefore bring together two teams who began their qualifying campaigns with victories.
For Zimbabwe, it will also be a significant occasion as Catalá takes charge of his first home match of the campaign, with the Warriors seeking to turn their strong start into further progress towards AFCON 2027.
