DR Congo: Anxiety over alleged resignation of Coach Le Roy’

PORT ELIZABETH – The DR Congo’s African Cup of Nations campaign was thrown into confusion on Friday with claims, subsequently denied, that coach Claude Le Roy had resigned.

Both Congolese Nyota TV and the official website of TP Mazembe, who provide many of the players in the squad for South Africa, reported the 64-year-old Frenchman had quit.

Le Roy, in his second spell with DR Congo, was reported to have handed a letter to the football federation official in charge of the team, Theo Binamungu.

His apparent resignation, 48 hours before the team kick-off their campaign against Ghana, was blamed on poor management of the team, while uncertainty also surrounds the issue of tournament bonuses.

Members of the public check out the new Africa Cup Of Nations ( AFCON ) sign set up in Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street in Durban on January 15,2013 welcoming the Africa Cup of Nations visitors to the city of Durban. The signs are to publicise the hosting of the 2013 AFCON Cup Football tournament taking place in South Africa.The organisers have been critiised for the late publicity on promoting the AFCON tournament.Durban is one of the host cities and Bafana Bafana open the tournament against the Cape Verde on January 19,2013. AFP PHOTO

Later however, reports emerged from Kinshasa suggesting Le Roy was still in his job, with DR Congo football federation president Constant Omari denying the news in a text message to sports minister, Banza Nukaley Nsungu.

The players are believed to support Le Roy’s decision.

DR Congo take on Ghana who are one of the favourites to win the tournament on Sunday at Port Elizabeth in the opening Group D match.