DR Congo head coach Otis Ngoma has attributed his team's 1-0 defeat to Kenya in their opening Group A match at CHAN PAMOJA 2024 to inadequate preparation and lack of match sharpness.
Speaking after the game at Kasarani Stadium, Ngoma said his players had struggled due to a premature end to the domestic season and a short pre-tournament camp. "We have players who are lacking in competition," he admitted. "We lost a lot of balls and missed chances; perhaps due to fatigue, inattention and lack of concentration.
The pre-competition camp wasn't what it should have been, and that is what hurt us tonight." Despite enjoying long spells of possession, the Leopards failed to break down a disciplined Kenyan backline.
Austine Odhiambo's first-half stoppage-time goal separated the sides, as DR Congo's rustiness in the final third proved costly.
