Nairobi, Feb. 6 -- In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), many had fallen out of the habit of using expatriate coaches.

Since the Leopards' double triumph at the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in 1968 and 1974, only local coaches had managed to produce results, winning bronze medals in 1998 and 2015.

The days of expatriate technicians (most of them French), affectionately referred to by some as "white wizards", were almost over.

But at the Afcon in Cote d'Ivoire, the Leopards' French coach Sebastien Desabre has worked wonders.

Read: DR Congo storm Afcon semis from goal behind, Nigeria through

The Congolese team has qualified for the semi-finals and face hosts Cote d'Ivoire on Wednesday.

The home team, which qualified in extremis...