| The DR
Congo is a traditional football country with matches attracting huge crowds
and big enthusiasm. The most successful time had been the 1960's and 1970's
climaxing in the second Nations Cup victory 1974 and the first qualification
for a Subsaharan country for the World Cup finals in Germany the same year.
The big success turned into a nightmare when everything went wrong and
a disastrous match against Yugoslavia moulded many Europeans image of African
Football out of proportion.
During the last years
the Congolese national team reflected the state of the war plagued country
by emerging with alternating miserably prepared collection of players making
coherence of the squad a pure lottery.
A lottery that once
came up with the surprise price: in 1998,
although similarly bad prepared, the team suddenly impressed with fluent
passing game, an essential component in the Januar West African heat, and
marched through to finish as surprise 3rd of the tournament.
Two years later all
was back to normal again and the Congolese lacked coherence and disappointed
at Ghana/Nigeria 2000.
And 2002? Anything
is possible as the Congolese are unpredictable. They surely have strong
players and high profile striker Shabani Nonda (AS Monaco) will make his
Nations Cup debut.
But the Congolese
haven't even had practise match results. They are one of the wrapped in
presents for the Nations Cup who can turn out a disappointment or as a
surprise as well. |
