CHAN 2016: Mali Coach Commends DR Congo

Mali head coach, Djbril Drame, has commended DR Congo for conquering Africa in the just concluded African Nations Championship, CHAN in Rwanda on Sunday.

Congo stunned Mali 3-0 in the final match of the 2016 edition of the championship while Ivory Coast beat Guinea 2-1 to clinch the bronze medal of the tournament.

Drame insisted that his side gave their best despite losing and has assured them that they will move to the Malian national team.

"DR Congo deserves the victory. They are a different team from the others we played against. All the three goals came as a result of individual errors."

"I’m not really disappointed with the performance of my team, taking into consideration that we had two weeks to prepare for the tournament. The quality of the players has been phenomenal. At the previous CHAN in South Africa in 2014, we were eliminated at the quarter finals."

"This time we were losing finalists. Why not win it the next time in 2018? We will continue working hard. I give merit to my players and I think some of them will be promoted to the senior team."

Meanwhile, DR Congo Head Coach, Florent Ibenge, believes that the title will boost the confidence of his players in their careers, adding that despite their shortcomings in the midfield, they still managed to achieve this feat.

He also commended the host country for their hospitality, saying the level of fair play was fantastic, most expecially when we defeated them, they still showed the sportsman's spirit and supported us.

"We had a solid defence but the midfield was the strength of my team. When you win, it is obvious to be happy and you are proud of your team."

"To have another star on your jersey is good news for any team. For this generation of players, winning the title is a good boost for their careers. "

"The most important element has been the level of Fair Play exhibited at the tournament. Even when we beat the host nation (Rwanda) at the quarter finals, the locals cheered us on as we made way from the stadium to our hotel. This is not something you see in Kinshasa."

"The DR Congo league is improving and we are working on making it amongst the best. I hope the leadership back home see what the CHAN represents. We had  agood tournament and we will continue to work on this performance."

"Our next objective is the Gabon 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Also, I have a personal ambition to be at the World Cup, which DR Congo has failed to qualify since 1974."