2026 World Cup qualifiers: Three grievances from Congolese fans against Desabre | OneFootball

The three grievances from Congolese supporters against Desabre

Desabre/@Radio Okapi

The head coach of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Frenchman Sébastien Desabre, is facing heavy criticism on social media.

With just days to go before crucial matches against Togo and Sudan, counting for the 9th and 10th rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the former Wydad manager has become the target of a smear campaign.

Here are three reasons explaining why Congolese fans are dissatisfied with Sébastien Desabre.

Senegal's comeback

Die-hard "Leopards" supporters are still struggling to come to terms with Senegal's historic comeback in the match counting for the 9th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They accuse their coach of poor tactical management, which allowed the "Lions" to snatch a last-gasp victory.

The stinging failure in the dual-nationality player saga

While their direct rival for qualification (Senegal) has been relentless in recruiting dual-nationality talents, the DRC has been powerless on this front. Many blame this failure on Sébastien Desabre, who reportedly did not do enough to convince these players to choose the Leopards.

Questionable decisions

The tactical and technical choices made by the French coach have been widely contested throughout this World Cup campaign. Many voices believe he made several strategic errors, which notably led to the heavy defeat against Senegal.