On the eve of the clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra spoke about the Lions' state of mind. Between team cohesion and fierce determination, the Strasbourg player displays complete serenity before facing his club teammates.

When asked about competition within the squad, Habib Diarra highlighted Senegal's squad depth as a collective strength. "We have a very dynamic team. Every player is capable of starting. The coach has choices to make, and we respect them," he stated maturely.

Having missed the first match, the young midfielder shared his thoughts on the internal atmosphere, which he considers excellent: "There's a really good atmosphere. We feel great here. We're all friends and we share a lot of moments together." This unity seems to be the foundation on which the Lions intend to build for the rest of the competition.

A healthy rivalry, but one priority: victory

The match against the DRC's Leopards takes on a special dimension, blending historic sporting rivalry with a reunion between club teammates. For Habib Diarra, the strategy remains the same: "We want to win this match like any other. We're staying focused and taking it one game at a time."

Speaking about his relationships with certain Congolese players, notably Noah Sadiki and Arthur Masuaku, Diarra admits that banter is common behind the scenes. However, he warns that the camaraderie will end on the sidelines: "We tease each other a lot, it's true, but tomorrow there won't be any friends left on the pitch."

The tone is set: Senegal enters this match with the ambition to win, without any sentimentality.