As the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024 quarterfinals approach, focus sharpens on the upcoming clash between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Guinea. Scheduled for Friday 2nd February, in Abidjan, the match holds significant weight for both teams as they vie for a spot in the semifinals.”We are expecting to take our chances and play good football while at it. We are expecting a very open game as Guinea is a good team that likes to play entertaining football,” remarked DRC coach Sebastien Desabre, underlining the team’s tactical approach ahead of the quarterfinal encounter.DRC, coming off a hard-earned victory against Egypt in the knockout stage, is eager to capitalize on their recent success. However, Coach Desabre remains mindful of the team’s challenges, particularly their struggle to convert opportunities into goals—a concern highlighted in their recent matches.”We want to score more goals and minimize mistakes. There is room for improvement in every game and we are picking the lessons as we progress,” Desabre added, emphasizing the team’s need for offensive prowess and defensive resilience.AFCON 2023 – QUARTER-FINALSFriday20:00: (1.67) Nigeria (3.50) Angola (5.90)23:00: (2.55) Dr Congo (3.00) Guinea (3.05)Saturday20:00: (3.30) Mali (3.10) Ivory Coast (2.35) AFCON 2023: Nigeria and Angola prepare for quarterfinal showdown23:00: (2.65) Cape Verde (3.05) S.Africa (2.90)***odds are subject to change***Desabre’s sentiments were echoed by Gedeon Kalulu, a key player for DRC, who expressed his determination to lead the team to victory in the upcoming match.On the opposing side, Guinea enters the quarterfinal fixture with a sense of determination and preparedness. Coach Kaba Diawara emphasized the importance of seizing crucial moments in the game, acknowledging the quality of their opponents while expressing confidence in Guinea’s ability to compete at this level.”We respect our opponents as they are a quality team but we have proven that we can compete at this level too,” Diawara stated, highlighting Guinea’s readiness for the challenge ahead.
