adminGroup B game.
The match kicks-off at 7pm.
The bespectacled 64-year-old Le Roy with a mop of fair hair has been to six previous tournaments from 1986 with Cameroon and Senegal (twice each), Ghana and DR Congo and never failed to reach the knockout stages.
Le Roy steered Cameroon to the 1988 title two years after the Indomitable Lions finished runners-up under his guidance, and he took Senegal to fourth place in 1990 and the quarter-finals of the following tournament.
DR Congo were next to benefit from the vast knowledge of the nomadic Le Roy, making the last eight in 2006, and the man who is never shy to speak out on African football issues, guided 2008 hosts Ghana to a bronze medal.
But the unpredictable Congolese Leopards must bring the Malian Eagles down to earth and collect maximum points at the 60 000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean city of Durban to reach the knockout phase.
Ghana, the second most popular tip to win the 2013 tournament after perennial favourites Cote d’lvoire lead the group with four points, Mali have three, DR Congo two and although Niger have a solitary point, they are still in the hunt.
While draws for Ghana against Niger in Port Elizabeth and Mali against DR Congo will take them past the first round, only three-point hauls for the Congolese and Nigeriens can keep them in the competition.
Le Roy, whose pre-Africa Cup anger at the way his squad was treated by Congolese officials over pay and other issues led to reports that he had quit, has seen the Leopards scale the heights and plumb the depths this month.
Outplayed by Ghana and two goals behind, the Leopards clawed their way back into the contest through a goal from inspirational captain Tresor Mputu and Dieumerci Mbokani levelled via the penalty spot. — AFP.
Online Reporter