Latest news with #HervéHappy
CAF
12 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON - DR Congo: Hervé Happy's Strategic Approach
Hervé Happy is the new head coach of the Leopards Women's team He promotes a three-pronged management style: combining authority, a paternal posture, and active listening He has travelled across Africa and Europe to build a balanced squad When Hervé Happy talks about football, he doesn't just string words together — he builds. Word by word, look by look, connection by connection. The new head coach of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's women's national team has a name that sounds like a promise, but in his world, neither luck nor euphoria sets the pace. At 47, Happy understands the weight of responsibility. One call from Kinshasa changed everything: a clear and ambitious proposal — to take charge of the DR Congo women's national team just weeks before the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set for July 5–26 in Morocco. The Cameroonian-born coach didn't hesitate. 'It's an honour, but more importantly, it's a mission,' he says calmly — a contrast to the urgency of the moment. Both a field man and an analyst, he's not venturing into unknown territory. As a technical advisor for the French Football Federation, stationed for several years at the Paris League, he led scouting and youth training programs. His method — built on high standards and knowledge-sharing — earned him the respect of the FFF's technical staff. Across Africa, he has also worked with several federations as a consultant and trainer. This dual African-European experience shapes a rare profile. DR Congo hasn't recruited a flashy name; they've chosen a builder. To assemble a solid team for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON, Happy got to work immediately. He analyzed match footage, launched talent scouting in Europe, conducted an initial training camp in Tanzania, and carried out several scouting missions in Lubumbashi. In a tough group — Morocco, Zambia, Senegal — he isn't looking for excuses, but for solutions. What was your first reaction when FECOFA contacted you to lead the women's national team? Hervé Happy: It's always a great pleasure. Leading a national team is an honour. And in women's football, it's a very interesting challenge. You have to build, mentor, and help players progress. That's what motivates me. How would you describe your management style? I'd say it's hybrid. You have to be authoritative when necessary, hands-on when needed, and sometimes take a more paternal approach. I have two grown daughters, so I understand what it means to be both demanding and attentive. It's about balancing those three styles at the right time. Your first impressions during the Tanzania camp? I already knew the group. I'd seen a lot of the players in Europe, watched many of their games. But it's always better to have them in a training camp, to see them live. That's when you see their attitudes, team spirit, and group dynamics. It's very enriching. What did you tell the players at your first meeting? I told them it's a joy to be here, to play football. First and foremost, football should be a pleasure. Yes, there's a competition, but I want them to approach each session with enthusiasm. This first camp, and the next, are for evaluating everyone. We'll then select 21 players and 3 goalkeepers for the WAFCON. DR Congo is in a tough group with Morocco, Zambia, and Senegal. Your thoughts? If a team qualifies for AFCON, it means they're good. I take every opponent very seriously. Morocco will have home advantage, Zambia is always tough to handle, and Senegal is progressing rapidly. We're preparing one match at a time, with discipline. What are the three core values you want to instil in this group? First, discipline — in behaviour, both on and off the field. Second, humility — always. And third, strong character. You need heart to turn situations around. We saw it with the men's CAF Champions League — often it's the drive that makes the difference. What would you say to a young girl playing football in Kinshasa or Goma? I'd tell her to keep playing! But also to join a club. Football should be about enjoyment first. At that age, we're not talking competition. They need to discover the game and play freely. Let them have fun without pressure. Just last night, we passed by a beach and saw kids playing beach soccer. That kind of spontaneous football teaches a lot too.
CAF
5 days ago
- General
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF Women's AFCON 2024: Democratic Republic of Congo Team Profile
Published: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 How the team qualified The DR Congo secured their spot by eliminating Equatorial Guinea in the second round of qualifiers. After a 1–1 draw in the first leg in Malabo, the Leopards sealed their qualification with a 2–1 win in the return leg in Kinshasa, booking their ticket to Morocco. TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON history This will be DR Congo's third appearance at the CAF TotalEnergies Women's AFCON finals, following previous editions in 1998 and 2006. Their best performance came in 1998, when they claimed third place. Players to watch Merveille KanjingaNicknamed 'The Cyborg,' the Congolese striker is a new signing for Paris Saint-Germain and has emerged as one of the most promising talents on the continent. Trained at TP Mazembe, she impresses with her power, speed, and ability to make penetrating runs. Dangerous in one-on-one situations, she combines explosiveness with composure in front of goal. Her 2025 move to PSG confirms her rapid rise and establishes her as one of DR Congo's standout stars for this tournament. Fideline NgoyGoalkeeper for Tout Puissant Mazembe, she brings strength and calmness to the Congolese defence. Her positioning, game reading, and top-level experience with one of the country's most structured clubs make her a key figure in the squad for this TotalEnergies WAFCON. The Head Coach: Herve Happy Originally from Cameroon, Hervé Happy is an experienced technician. He is currently serving as a technical advisor for the French Football Federation, assigned to the Paris League. A former player who came through the youth academy at Toulouse, he later played in the National league. He also worked as a physical education teacher in the French Caribbean. His coaching career spans over fifteen years, particularly in sports-study programs and as head coach of senior teams that participated in the Concacaf U15 and U20 competitions. He has also worked with the scouting departments of Olympique de Marseille and Montpellier in France. Having been with the FFF for ten years, Hervé Happy is now tasked with revitalising the Congolese women's national team, which is returning to the TotalEnergeis CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations after missing several editions. Ambitions and Group Analysis Placed in Group A alongside Morocco, Senegal, and Zambia, DR Congo head into this AFCON aiming to finally progress beyond the group stage. In such a highly competitive group, the Leopards will need strong defensive structure, clinical finishing, and true team cohesion to stand a chance of causing an upset. Under the leadership of Boumehdi, the team dreams of recapturing the form that earned them bronze in 1998 and rejoining the elite nations of African women's football.
