By | 📝 Brian Sentuuya
- D.R. Congo’s Gridiron Glory: Desabre’s Tactical Genius Earns Quarter-Final Slot in AFCON 2023
In an electrifying faceoff at Stade Laurent Pokou, D.R. Congo pulled off a gridiron-style victory against Egypt in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023, clinching their spot in the quarter-finals after a nail-biting penalty shootout.
Meschack Elia’s thunderous 37th-minute header wasn’t just a goal; it was the opening salvo in a first-half skirmish. Egypt fired back with a penalty courtesy of Mostafa Mohamed.
Despite Egypt’s second-half blitz, D.R. Congo’s defense stood tall, like a steel curtain refusing to yield. The game amped up into overtime, featuring Egypt’s Hamdi Mohamed getting a red card, following his second yellow card of the game.
Even with a man down, Egypt kept on pushing, setting the stage for an epic penalty shootout. In a high-stakes duel, D.R. Congo emerged triumphant with an 8-7 victory, sealed by critical misses from Egypt’s Mostafa Mohamed and goalkeeper Gabaski.
This historic win propels D.R. Congo into the quarter-finals, an accomplishment that eclipses their past knockout showings. Meanwhile, Egypt, a seven-time champion, faces a bitter pill for the second time in three tries to progress past the Round of 16.
Sebastien Desabre, the orchestrator of D.R. Congo’s triumph, and a former head coach of the Uganda Cranes, attributed their success to a combination of strategic brilliance, steadfast mental fortitude, and his profound comprehension of Egyptian football.
"I'm very proud of my players. We had a strategy in place to contain this team, but we played too low in the first half. I changed it afterwards and we played better. We suffered, but I think Egypt did too. My knowledge of Egyptian football probably helped us. They're a good team but we were better today. Mentally, I think we were very strong. Now we'll try to recover well and then we'll take it match after match, starting with Guinea, our next opponent"Sébastien Desabre, DR Congo coach
On the other hand, Rui Vitoria, Egypt’s coach, voiced his disappointment but acknowledged the unpredictable twists of football. Despite the setback, he pledged to stay in the grind, working hard with the team and taking a share of the responsibility for the outcome. It’s a tough game, but Vitoria’s commitment shows that in football, the show must go on.
"It wasn't what we expected. We came up against a tough opponent. Each team have its strong and weak moments. We're very sad. We worked hard to go far in the competition. Then there was the penalty shoot-out and that wasn't our day. In football, there are good times and bad times. Part of the responsibility is mine. We're going to keep working with this team as long as I am here"Rui Vitoria, Egypt coach
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Finance Trust Bank FUFA WSL 2026/2027 Fixtures.
FWSL - MATCH DAY 1 FIXTURE
 
(1)
3 - 02026/2027
Kawempe Muslims LFC vs Jinja United WFC |
 
(1)
0 - 12026/2027
She Corporate FC vs St.Noa Girls Zana FC |
 
(1)
0 - 32026/2027
URA Ladies FC vs KCCA WFC |
 
(1)
1 - 02026/2027
Makerere University vs Amus College WFC |
 
(1)
0 - 12026/2027
LADY DOVES FC vs Uganda Martyrs LWFC |
 
(1)
0 - 32026/2027
Rines SS WFC vs She Maroons FC |
AROUND THE SPORTING WORLD
- Achomo, Mukulu Rally Seeta High to Keep Women’s Finals Alive
Facing the prospect of falling 3-0 behind in the best-of-five series, Seeta produced a determined late fightback to secure their first win of the finals. Kampala University had entered Game Three with victories of 48-43 and 53-47 in the opening two games, hoping to move closer to the championship, but Seeta refused to let the series slip away. - Omara Inspires Watoto Men to 2-1 Finals Lead as Seeta Revive Title Hopes
Both series resume on Wednesday, with Watoto seeking the victory that would put them on the brink of the men’s title and Seeta aiming to draw level in the women’s competition. - Kawempe Overcome Uganda Martyrs to Seize League Summit
Football rewards teams that seize their opportunities, and Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC made theirs count to claim a 2-1 victory over Uganda Martyrs Lubaga WFC at St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, on Sunday. - Uganda Martyrs Face Kawempe Test with Top Spot at Stake | Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League
The central contest is likely to be between Uganda Martyrs’ scoring threat and Kawempe’s unbeaten defence. With an average of 2.5 goals per game, the leaders have demonstrated their ability to make chances count. Kawempe, by contrast, have yet to concede, suggesting that their defensive organisation has been effective. The challenge for Uganda Martyrs is to find a way through without losing the attacking rhythm that has brought them six points. - KCCA Women Held by Makerere as Missed Chances Define Goalless Draw | Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League
The goalless draw was a story of opportunities missed and defensive interventions that mattered. KCCA had enough chances to win the match but could not find the finishing touch, while Makerere remained resilient and came within inches of claiming victory at the death.
