Claude Le Roy will face his former team when Congo host Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers on Tuesday, with the veteran coach targeting a surprise victory in Brazzaville.
Congo’s Diables Rouges cannot afford to approach the derby as beaten opponents. They lost 1-0 to Namibia in their opening qualifier, while Cameroon began their campaign with a 3-1 win over Comoros.
Le Roy accepts that Cameroon start as the stronger side, but insists that his personal history with the Indomitable Lions will have no bearing once the match begins.
The 78-year-old Frenchman highlighted Cameroon’s standing in African football and identified Bryan Mbeumo, Danny Namaso and Christian Kofane as major threats. Kofane has since been ruled out, but Cameroon have already demonstrated their attacking strength, with Mbeumo and Namaso both scoring against Comoros.
The fixture carries particular significance for Le Roy because of his long association with Cameroon. He first took charge of the national team in 1985 and guided them to the 1986 Africa Cup of Nations final, where they lost to Egypt on penalties.
Two years later, Cameroon gained revenge by beating Nigeria to win the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations. Le Roy later returned to lead the Indomitable Lions at the 1998 World Cup, where a 17-year-old Samuel Eto’o made his international breakthrough.
However, Le Roy’s return to Congo is not driven by nostalgia. He is serving a second spell in charge of the Diables Rouges, having already managed them when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
His immediate task is to take Congo back to the tournament’s finals after an absence of more than a decade. The defeat by Namibia has increased the pressure from the outset, and another loss particularly on home soil would leave Congo in a difficult position in the qualifying group.
Cameroon manager David Pagou is well aware of Le Roy’s place in the country’s football history. Before the reunion, he described the veteran coach as a “father”.
The respect between the two men is mutual, but it will not influence the contest after kick-off. Le Roy knows the Cameroon football environment, the expectations surrounding the team and the pressure placed on the Indomitable Lions better than most opposing coaches.
Having helped Cameroon win the Africa Cup of Nations almost 40 years ago, the “White Wizard” now hopes to deny them victory. For Congo, success would provide the ideal response to their disappointing start and revive their campaign.