Sebastien Desabre, the manager behind DR Congo’s success at the ongoing 2024 AFCON

• He is a French professional football manager
• He won the Tunisian and Moroccan league titles while managing the Egypt national team
• He led DR Congo to victory over Egypt at the ongoing 2024 AFCON

Sebastien Desabre is a French professional football manager who is currently leading the Democratic Republic of Congo national team. Born in France, he started as a player but seems like he was not destined for that though it laid a foundation for his successful managerial journey.

His managerial career started with ES Cannet-Rocheville, a French club in the fifth tier. Desabre then embarked on a journey across Africa and the Middle East where he managed the ASEC mimosa in Cote d’Ivoire, Cotton Sport in Cameroon and Esperance de Tunis in Tunisia.

While managing these clubs, he won various trophies with each team. He then ventured into Angola with Recreativo Desportivo Libolo, the United Arab Emirates with Dubai Club and back to Africa with JS Saoura in Algeria.

His impact reached the national team level when he led the Uganda Cranes to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but left Uganda for Pyramids FC in Egypt. His career in Egypt was short-lived and he moved to Morocco where he joined Wydad AC.

After two years in Morocco, he moved back to Egypt for a brief spell with Ismaily SC and in the same season, he signed with DR Congo national team where he is expected to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup.

Sebastien Desabre Personal Life

Sebastien Serge Louis Desabre was born on August 2 1976 in Valence, France where he started his football career as a player though he did not play for long before he became a manager with ES Cannet-Rocheville and he was about 28 years old then.

Sebastien Desabre. Photo/Kingfut

He earned the name “florist”, a name he acquired due to his playing style and position as he played an attacking fielder or winger, positions that require creativity and flair, reinforcing the nickname. It could also have hailed from his French origin where they describe a player with exceptional skills and grace on the ball as a flower at the foot.

Sebastien Desabre Managerial Career

His managerial career started with ES Cannet-Rocheville, a French club in the fifth tier. Desabre then embarked on a journey across Africa and the Middle East where he managed the ASEC mimosa in Cote d’Ivoire, Cotton Sport in Cameroon and Esperance de Tunis in Tunisia.

While managing these clubs, he won various trophies with each team. He then ventured into Angola with Recreativo Desportivo Libolo, the United Arab Emirates with Dubai Club and back to Africa with JS Saoura in Algeria.

His impact reached the national team level when he led the Uganda Cranes to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations but left Uganda for Pyramids FC in Egypt. His career in Egypt was short-lived and he moved to Morocco where he joined Wydad AC.

Sebastien Desabre. Photo/KEEPUP

After two years in Morocco, he moved back to Egypt for a brief spell with Ismaily SC and in the same season, he signed with the DR Congo national team where he is expected to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup.

Sebastian Desabre Managing the DR Congo national team

Desabre was appointed as the head coach of the DR Congo national team replacing Hector Cuper. At the time of his appointment, the team was in a difficult situation as they had failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar and were the last of their group in tr 202 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Apart from the team’s performance, they also lacked consistency and had several young and inexperienced players. On joining them, he made some changes including bringing in new players, and also managed to get some good results including a win over Gabon in the opening match of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

He was the wheel behind the team’s success in the 20924 AFCON games where DR Congo won over Egypt and is expected to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup.