DR Congo lose to Uganda in Johannesburg

Sébastien Desabre’s reshuffled squad began its friendly programme with a defeat. DR Congo lost 0-2 to Uganda in Johannesburg on October 2, conceding in each half and failing to find a reply. The match was an opportunity to assess the players brought together for the second part of the international camp.

Radio Okapi reports an early opener followed by another goal after the interval. Among Congo’s chances, it describes a Théo Bongonda header that went wide. The Leopards were already 0-1 down at half-time and never scored the goal that could have brought them back into the contest.

Actualite.cd identifies an error by goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud in the opening goal, while highlighting Stephy Mavididi and Willy Kambwala as individual positives in the reshuffled side.

This was not simply the qualifying side playing again. FECOFA had released eleven players to their clubs after the trip to Zimbabwe, including Yoane Wissa, Axel Tuanzebe and Fiston Mayele. The South African camp, which began on September 29, was intended to give newcomers and less-established players a different opportunity.

Before the match, Desabre told Radio Okapi that the new arrivals had to show they could compete with the existing squad. He also emphasised discipline and attitude. Judged against that brief, the defeat is an early warning rather than a definitive verdict on every player’s potential.

The qualifying record remains separate: victories over Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe earned Congo six points. None was at stake in this friendly. The purpose of the second camp remains to broaden Desabre’s options while retaining the effectiveness his side showed in competitive matches.