CHAN 2024: Ngoma Seeks Quick Fix After DR Congo Shaky Start

DR Congo head coach Otis Ngoma cited poor preparation and limited match fitness as reasons behind his side’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Kenya in their opening match of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

The Leopards, two-time champions of CHAN, began their Group A campaign on the back foot, falling to the Harambee Stars on Sunday in a match where possession and effort weren’t enough to avoid defeat.
Despite a spirited second-half display, the Congolese side failed to convert their chances and now face a crucial second group game against Zambia.

DR Congo’s struggles, according to coach Ngoma, stem from a combination of rustiness and an inadequate pre-tournament camp.

With the domestic league season ending prematurely and players inactive in the lead-up to CHAN, Ngoma’s men entered the tournament undercooked.

“We have players who are lacking in competition. Today we lost a lot of balls, missed goal opportunities—perhaps due to fatigue, inattention, lack of concentration, but also other details,” Ngoma said at the post-match press conference.

The Congolese side had only two and a half weeks of preparation, a period Ngoma admitted was insufficient to build team chemistry and cohesion.

“The pre-competition training camp wasn’t what it should have been. The early end of our championship meant the players hadn’t played enough. This is what hurt us tonight,” he said.