Algerian Radio
The national football team continues its preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Round of 16 match against the DR Congo on Tuesday (5:00 PM). The atmosphere is focused and committed as the competition enters its most demanding phase.
Throughout the sessions, devoted primarily to technical and tactical aspects, the pace has intensified. Concentration is growing within the group, which is fully aware that the tournament no longer leaves room for error. The players display great determination, driven by a strong collective spirit.
While the defensive sector is momentarily weakened by the absence of three players, national coach Vladimir Petkovic appears serene and confident that he can rely on the depth of his bench to compensate for these absences.
Despite these constraints, the group shows no signs of letting up. The team’s senior players, led by captain Riyad Mahrez, are supporting the younger players to help them relieve pressure, preserve group balance, and maintain cohesion as they approach a decisive and crucial tournament fixture.
DR Congo Under the Microscope
Parallel to their work on the pitch, Vladimir Petkovic and his technical staff are conducting an in-depth analysis of the DR Congo squad, which delivered a convincing performance in the group stage.
Video sessions are regularly scheduled to dissect the opponent's gameplay, identify their strengths and areas requiring vigilance, and develop the best plan to approach this pivotal match.
"DR Congo is a balanced and quite dangerous team. We will have to dig deep into our resources to win this match," Petkovic stated following the final first-round match won against Equatorial Guinea (3-1).
With this in mind, assistant coach Nabil Neghiz attended the DR Congo vs. Botswana match (3-0) on Tuesday, which was the final game of the group stage.
His presence was intended to gather maximum insight into the future opponent, both tactically and individually, to refine technical and strategic choices.
As the match approaches, preparation is shifting into its finest phase. Between field work, video analysis, and direct observation of the opponent, the technical staff is refining the final details with a shared conviction within the group: at this stage of the competition, nothing must be left to chance.
