Sebastien Desabre defends DR Congo's winless run in open play

The Leopards are the only side in the last eight of the tournament to get this far without winning in regular or extra time, beating Egypt via penalties to set a date with Guinea tonight at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. 

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Desabre insists it’s not for the lack of trying. 

''I say that, in the competition we put a plan to win games every time. We try to create a lot of chances to score, but sometimes it is not to be,'' said Desabre. 

The DRC is not starved of players with an eye for goal – Cedric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa, Simon Banza and Fiston Mayele are all lethal strikers in their own right. 

But have struggled to give Desabre’s team an edge, which he hopes will finally change against Guinea. 

''But for tomorrow [tonight], we want to play good offensive football and score one more ahead of the opponents. And finish off possible penalties,'' added Desabre. 

They took the lead against Egypt, but an equaliser on the stroke of halftime would eventually force the two sides to a penalty shoot-out. 

Desabre believes they deservedly qualified for the next round. 

''I think our last game against Egypt, we stayed calm during the penalty shootout and we won. I am very proud of my players to would have won against Egypt,'' he concluded.

DRC will find a Guinea outfit their coach Kaba Diawara insists are still at AFCON to go all the way and not bothered by playing pretty.