Saint Eloi Lupopo Face Growing Concerns as CAF Champions League Test Fast Approaches

Saint Eloi Lupopo's preparations for their CAF Champions League group stage debut have hit a snag, raising concerns ahead of the crucial fixture.

The Democratic Republic of Congo-based club secured their spot in the group stage for the first time after a notable victory over Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round.

They have been drawn into Group C, alongside heavyweights and past champions including South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, Sudan's Al Hilal Omdurman, and Algeria's MC Alger.

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However, their recent domestic form has been less than ideal. Guy Bukasa's side has been unable to secure a victory in their last two Congolese top-flight matches.

Their most recent outing was a 1-1 draw with Sanga Balende on Friday, a result that saw them slip to second place on the Illicocash Ligue 1 table.

In stark contrast, their upcoming opponents, Mamelodi Sundowns, are in fine form. The South African champions, who were finalists in last season's competition, currently sit atop the Betway Premiership standings and won their last match against TS Galaxy.

Adding to Saint Eloi Lupopo's challenge is Mamelodi Sundowns' formidable home record in the Champions League. The Pretoria-based team is unbeaten in their last six continental matches on home soil, presenting a significant hurdle for the visitors.

“We want to highlight the football of Mamelodi Sundowns and the quality of the players, we wanted to highlight the work we are doing in terms of growing the team. We wanted to highlight football in South Africa of course," Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said after his side qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage.

Saint Eloi Lupopo punched its ticket to the group stages of the CAF Champions League for the 2025/2026 season, but their journey has been anything but smooth.

The club navigated a challenging qualifying campaign, securing their spot amidst a fierce battle and a major off-field controversy involving South African giants Orlando Pirates.

Saint Eloi Lupopo's continental journey began by successfully overcoming Sudan's Al-Merrikh in the first preliminary round, winning 1-0 at home and securing a crucial 0-0 draw away to advance.

This set the stage for a high-stakes encounter against former champions Orlando Pirates in the second preliminary round, a tie that delivered drama both on and off the pitch.

The match-up against the Buccaneers became the definitive and most controversial moment of Saint Eloi Lupopo's campaign.

The first leg, played in Lubumbashi, saw the Congolese side deliver a commanding performance, securing a dominant 3-0 victory and placing one foot firmly in the group stage.

However, the return leg in Johannesburg was a different story. Orlando Pirates mounted a spirited comeback, mirroring Saint Eloi Lupopo's first-leg scoreline by winning 3-0 themselves.

This levelled the aggregate score at 3-3, forcing the tie into a tense penalty shootout. Saint Eloi Lupopo ultimately held their nerve, winning the shootout 5-4 to secure their qualification.

But the drama did not end with the final whistle as Orlando Pirates lodged an official protest with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), citing alleged irregularities in the Congolese club's squad and technical bench.

Lupopo has publicly and vehemently denied all accusations, labelling them ‘malicious, unfounded, and slanderous,' and insisting that their registration and compliance are ‘clean.’

“Orlando Pirates took wrong information, [Ramos] Kashala was registered on 29 September, that was one day before the window closed,” Lupopo CEO Jean-Luc Kapend said.

“The motivation of the complaint of Pirates, they announced the player by social media, out of the day of registration. The second player, [Henoc] Molia. In Congo, we change passports and the passport we used to register him is not old, it’s the valid passport.”

This protest has cast a cloud over the qualification, with both clubs anxiously awaiting CAF's final ruling, which could overturn the result. However, Lupopo remain focused on their next phase.

Despite the ongoing off-field distraction, The Blue Train is preparing for the highly competitive group stage.