DR Congo coach, Le Roy diagnoses problems for highly-rated Black Stars

DR Congo coach Claude Le Roy has promised sleepless nights for the Ghana defence ahead of their Group B opener at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Stars, fourth placed team at the immediate past tournament held last year open their books against DR Congo, a team handled a former Ghana coach, Le Roy on Sunday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

The Frenchman is very much aware of the quality in the Ghanaian team, constituted by nearly 50-percent of the team that he won bronze with in the 2008 edition. Also, current coach Kwasi Appiah worked under him at the same tournament.

“Most of the players in this team where with me during the qualifying stages of the maiden African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2009 including Agyemang Badu, Rabiu Mohamed, Harrison Afful and Kwadwo Asamoah and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008. They are now experienced.”

“I have a lot of respect for Kwasi (Appiah). He was my assistant and is a gentleman.”

The 64-year old trainer admits it will be a tall mountain to beat Ghana, a team he considers the strongest on the continent alongside the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

“Ghana were semi-finalists in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. For me, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have been the best teams in Africa over the last 10-years and it is always not easy to play against teams of that status.

“We are ready for the game. Obviously, Ghana is stronger than us but we have a good team despite the refusal of some key players to join the squad.

“The team has qualified for the first time since 2006 and want to achieve something. We will try to create problems for the Ghana defence with an offensive approach.”

Le Roy is making his seventh appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Source: GNA