mixed results for Congolese clubs

We will still have to wait to see the DRC repeat the feat of 2022 by fielding 4 clubs in the group stage of the two CAF interclub competitions.

For the 2024-225 season, there will only be two Congolese representatives at this stage of the competition. They are TP Mazembe and As Maniema Union, both in the CAF Champions League.

Semi-finalists of the last edition, the Corbeaux de Mazembe qualified by beating the Zambian club Red Arrows on the first leg (2-0) and on the return leg (2-1). For its part,AS Maniema Union created a sensation by eliminating Angolan club Petro Atletico. The Unionists won the first leg in Kinshasa (2-1) before imposing a blank draw on the Angolans in the return match in Luanda (0-0), thus obtaining a historic qualification in the group stage of an interclub competition. CAF, for only their second participation in the Champions League.

Zero points in the Confederation Cup

On the other hand, this is the first time in 4 years that the DRC will not have a representative in the group stage of the Confederation Cup. Indeed, its two representatives, AS V. Club and FC Saint Éloi Lupopo, were eliminated in the second preliminary round.

Beaten in the first leg (2-0), AS V.Club was knocked out by the South African club Stellenbosch who held them to a draw (1-1) in the return match in Kinshasa. For its part, FC Saint Éloi Lupopo could not do anything against the Angolan club Bravo do Maquis. The Cheminots de Lubumbashi were beaten on the first leg (1-0) and on the return leg (1-2).

LINAFOOT singled out

These poor performances of Congolese clubs in the Confederation Cup arouse negative reactions; and for certain sports leaders, the fault lies with LINAFOOT.

This is the case of the president of FC les Aigles du Congo, Vidiye Tshimanga, who did not hesitate to criticize LINAFOOT on his social networks. “Pthe first person responsible for this debacle is LINAFOOT“, he said.

To add: “La LINAFOOT organizes its championship according to the names of the teams and not their level. In addition, it does not put the teams in the conditions to face weak teams. Mazembe and Maniema Union qualified through their own efforts. V. Club is in the process of rebuilding, this implies that it needs the championship to be able to put its team in a fighting state. However, we have been waiting for the start of the championship for two months “, he concluded.

Tout Puissant Mazembe and AS Maniema Union will know their opponents in the group stage after the draw which will take place on October 7.