As the decisive match against Ivory Coast approaches for the first round of the 2028 Olympic qualifying, the coach of the DRC Women’s Leopards spoke to journalists on Thursday. During the pre-match press conference, Pamphile Mihayo provided a detailed overview of his team's physical condition, opponent analysis, and injury concerns that have disrupted their preparation.
The Congolese coach acknowledged the challenges posed by injuries within his squad, while highlighting the determination of the available athletes. “Despite the absences, we have prepared well for the match. We have worked with the available group to try to perform at our best tomorrow… Today, we lost Mawete again due to an injury,” he expressed regretfully.
Discussing the challenge his players face this Friday, Pamphile Mihayo admitted that the time to observe and adjust tactics has been particularly limited. “We have tried to gather information on the Ivory Coast squad, despite the little time we had, we did some research… The timeframe has been short to prepare for this match, but we will unite to aim for a positive result,” he declared with determination.
Despite these time constraints and a squad weakened by injuries, the technical head of the Women’s Leopards has unwavering confidence in his team's abilities. Facing a formidable Ivorian side, the DRC is counting on its collective solidarity and the advantage of playing at home in Lubumbashi to secure a favorable outcome before the return match.
