Otis Ngoma, head coach of the DR Congo Leopards A' team, has promised the first victory for his side in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Zambia. After a disappointing 1-0 loss to Kenya in their opening match, Ngoma insisted that the Leopards have identified solutions to bounce back in their crucial group stage match scheduled for Thursday, August 7th, at Nairobi's Nyayo Stadium. He acknowledged Zambia as a combative and tough opponent but expressed confidence that his team will rise to the challenge and earn points in the competition.

Ngoma highlighted the need to improve attacking efficiency, which was the team's major weakness in their initial game where too many scoring chances were missed. The coach revealed that recent training and reintegration of players who had been blocked during the pre-tournament phase aimed to build a more competitive squad capable of securing a win. With the Leopards currently bottom of Group A with zero points, a victory against Zambia, who are just starting their CHAN campaign, is essential to keep DR Congo’s hopes alive for advancing from the group.

From a tactical perspective, Ngoma and his staff are focusing on sharpening the team's cohesion and tactical execution, which suffered due to inadequate preparation and the premature end of the domestic league season. Despite the loss to Kenya, the Leopards showed periods of good possession and created several goal opportunities but lacked the finishing touch and precision in attack. Ngoma also emphasized the psychological aspect, believing the fans' support will galvanize the team to deliver a strong performance. The importance of this match cannot be overstated, as another defeat could mean early elimination for the two-time CHAN champions.

On the other side, Zambia, led by former Chelsea coach Avram Grant, are making their CHAN debut with ambitions to build a solid competitive squad for the future. Zambia will leverage their freshness and structure, aiming to maintain a winning mentality throughout the tournament. The match is thus a high-stakes battle between an experienced, yet wounded DR Congo and a confident, ambitious Zambia seeking a strong start. Ngoma remains optimistic that his team will respond positively in this intense Group A clash, promising that the Leopards will demonstrate a renewed spirit and tactical discipline to secure their first CHAN 2024 victory.