AS Saint-Étienne defender Kévin Pedro is in Sébastien Desabre’s 26-man squad for DR Congo’s two matches against Sierra Leone on 12 and 17 November. He will leave Ian Cathro’s group during the international break.
Kévin Pedro is set to link up with the Leopards again. The 20-year-old AS Saint-Étienne defender is part of the 26-man squad named by head coach Sébastien Desabre to face Sierra Leone on 12 and 17 November in the CAN 2027 qualifiers. The news, now official, appears on the ASSE website.
For Saint-Étienne, the news has an immediate consequence: Pedro will leave Ian Cathro’s group during the international break from 9 to 17 November, as reported by Made in Saint-Étienne. The player, who has one cap, was called up for the first time last month.
A versatile player trained at ASSE
Trained at AS Saint-Étienne, Kévin Pedro is described as a versatile defender, able to play at centre-back or right-back (Made in Saint-Étienne). That profile allows him to cover two positions.
His first call-up with the Leopards came last month. He is selected again at 20, with one cap to his name so far.
Cathro must decide before the break
The calendar first forces a choice on Ian Cathro. Before Pedro leaves, the coach must settle his options at centre-back for the visit of Laval on 7 November. The 20-year-old’s departure will follow during the break.
A poll by the outlet But! Football Club gives a snapshot of supporters’ views: 56.9% of voters do not want to see Sohaib Naïr start against Laval, against 43.1%. The same poll indicates that Pedro’s interim spell at centre-back is seen as more reassuring than Sohaib Naïr’s by a majority of supporters. This is supporter opinion, not a sporting fact.
Two matches against Sierra Leone
DR Congo will therefore face Sierra Leone twice, on 12 and 17 November, in the CAN 2027 qualifiers, according to Walfoot. The two meetings come close together, five days apart.
His call-up alone does not say what role Pedro will play in those two matches. For Saint-Étienne, the next fixture remains the visit of Laval on 7 November, before the break.