DR Congo coach: We must take risks to keep World Cup dream alive

DR Congo's French head coach Sebastien Desabre believes his team must embrace risk to keep their World Cup "dream alive" for their supporters back home. A win against already-eliminated Uzbekistan in Atlanta on Saturday will secure qualification for the knockout stages as at least one of the best third-placed teams.

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We’re already happy to have secured the first point for Congo; we’ve had a strong run and we can keep the dream and the story alive for all Congolese people.

Desabre's squad has already made history, stunning Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal with a 1-1 draw in their first World Cup appearance in 52 years, before a narrow 1-0 defeat to Colombia. The team faced significant challenges, including a strict travel ban to the United States due to an Ebola outbreak, forcing them to quarantine in Belgium before arriving at the tournament.

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Our players are ready to rise to this challenge.. We needed one point from the two (first) matches to keep our qualification destiny in our own hands. Tomorrow a win is essential, so we’ll have to take risks.

"We're already happy to have secured the first point for Congo; we've had a strong run and we can keep the dream and the story alive for all Congolese people," Desabre told his pre-match press conference. "Our players are ready to rise to this challenge. We needed one point from the two (first) matches to keep our qualification destiny in our own hands. Tomorrow a win is essential, so we'll have to take risks."

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We’ve got him back to his best. Since the beginning of the training he’s been in good shape and he showed that in the first match.

Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa is expected to be crucial for DR Congo's progression. Wissa, who joined Newcastle for £55 million ($73 million) less than a year ago, faced fitness and form struggles in his first season. Despite missing the Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, Desabre is confident Wissa, who scored against Portugal, is back to his best. "We've got him back to his best. Since the beginning of the training he's been in good shape and he showed that in the first match," Desabre added. "I think we shouldn't assess his move to Newcastle too early. He started off getting injured against Senegal and you know that at the top level of football, if you're not at 100 percent, it's very difficult. But I know him well, his motivation is impeccable and I think he'll do very well at Newcastle."

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I think we shouldn’t assess his move to Newcastle too early. He started off getting injured against Senegal and you know that at the top level of football, if you’re not at 100 percent, it’s very difficult.