The Democratic Republic of Congo's U23 national team, also known as the Léopards, has arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, for a training camp in preparation for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers against Mauritania. The team is set to play their first match on September 28 in Nouakchott, followed by the return leg on October 6 in Lubumbashi. The team is currently without two key players, Oscar Kabwit and Arthur Spadoni, who are out due to injuries.

The absence of Kabwit and Spadoni has reduced the team's roster to 28 players, as the technical staff had initially selected a list of 30 players. The team is being led by a staff that has made some changes to the squad, with the return of Axel Kayombo and the inclusion of new players from local clubs such as FC Les Aigles du Congo and Maniema Union. The team also features some familiar faces, including captain Samuel Ntanda, Jules Ahoka, Ryan Tutu, and Messy Manitou, who all played in the recent U20 CAN in Egypt.

The Léopards' coach has opted for a mix of experienced and young players, with many of the players from the March training camp in Algeria and the Maurice Ravello tournament in May getting another chance to prove themselves. The team's preparation is crucial, as they look to make a strong impression in the CAN qualifiers and potentially qualify for the tournament. The coach's task will be made easier by the fact that many of the players from the previous camps have been retained.

The Léopards' opponents, Mauritania's Mourabitounes, will provide a tough challenge, but the DR Congo team is confident of making a good showing. The team's recent performances have been encouraging, and they will look to build on that momentum in the qualifiers. The matches against Mauritania will be an important test of the team's abilities and will give them an opportunity to gauge their progress.

The DR Congo team's preparation for the CAN qualifiers has been marked by some changes, including the introduction of new players and the absence of key players due to injuries. Despite these challenges, the team remains focused on achieving a positive result against Mauritania and potentially qualifying for the CAN. The team's fans will be eagerly following their progress and hoping for a successful outcome.

The CAN qualifiers are an important milestone for the DR Congo team, as they look to make a strong impression on the African stage. The team's performance will be closely watched, and a positive result will give them a boost in terms of confidence and momentum. The team's coach and players will be under pressure to deliver a good result, but they are confident of rising to the challenge.

The DR Congo team's matches against Mauritania will take place on September 28 and October 6, and the team will be looking to make a strong impression in both games. With a mix of experienced and young players, the team has the potential to make a deep run in the CAN qualifiers and potentially qualify for the tournament. The team's progress will be closely followed by fans and observers alike.

Key points

  • DR Congo's U23 team will play Mauritania in CAN qualifiers on September 28 and October 6.
  • Oscar Kabwit and Arthur Spadoni are out due to injuries.
  • The team features a mix of experienced and young players.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.