Sidney Tchibinda says the Central African Republic is eager to make a strong impression in their debut at the African Nations Championship, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
After missing the first seven editions, the Wild Beasts secured their maiden qualification for the tournament by defeating Cameroon in the qualifiers.
They will be aiming for glory in their debut appearance, but first, they must navigate a challenging Group B that includes co-hosts Tanzania, as well as Madagascar, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso.
Despite the tough fixtures ahead, the midfielder remains unfazed, stating that his team aims to be the tournament’s surprise package.
"After waiting a long time, we are happy to finally qualify for this tournament. Many people didn’t believe in us, especially when we were about to play Cameroon in the qualifiers. But we proved them wrong," Tchibinda told Flashscore.
"This is our first time playing in CHAN, and we want to make it count. No one expects us to do much, and that gives us the chance to surprise everyone.
"We have trained hard, prepared well, and we are united as a team. All my teammates understand how important this is for our country.
"It’s more than just football; it’s about pride and showing the world that football in the Central African Republic has a future.
"We are ready to give everything on the pitch and make our people proud. This is our moment, and we want to make the most of it."
The Central African Republic will face Burkina Faso in their opening match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, and a victory over the Stallions would set the tone for their push to reach the quarter-finals.
When asked about his team’s chances against the more experienced West Africans, Tchibinda said they prefer to let their performance on the pitch speak for itself, rather than make empty promises.
"We will approach this match just like every other game we’ve played before, giving it our all and doing our best to get the result we want," he continued.
"Many people see us as the underdogs, and that actually works in our favour. There’s less pressure, and it gives us the chance to surprise everyone.
"We know Burkina Faso is a strong team with plenty of experience, having played in the CHAN tournament more than three times. But this is football, where anything can happen.
"What matters most is how we perform on the day. We’re not interested in making bold statements or promises; instead, we’ll let our actions on the pitch do the talking.
"We respect our opponents, but we believe in our team and in the work we’ve put in to get here. We’re ready to fight for a win and make our country proud."
CAR head coach Sebastien Ngato made it clear that his team hasn’t come to East Africa for an adventure, firmly dismissing any suggestion that they would be overwhelmed by the occasion.
"We are not here by accident," Ngato told reporters at the pre-match press conference.
"This is not an adventure. We’ve been working with this group of players since 2021. They know each other well. They understand the mission.
"We know people talk because we’re new. But we’re here to play football with confidence and respect. Every team at this level deserves credit - including us."
He added: "We prepared seriously for this moment. The odds are 50-50. We’ll fight to earn the result we want.
"We’ve trained hard, we’re ready, and we’re determined to make a statement. It’s our first time, but we’ll fight for a respectable result. That’s on us."
