St Eloi Lupopo: More Trouble for Orlando Pirates’ Champions League Nemesis as Fresh Complaint is Filed

Trouble seems to be following Congolese club St Eloi Lupopo since their ill-tempered CAF Champions League match with South African giants Orlando Pirates.

Lupopo, who are waiting for the outcome of their case with Pirates after the South African club filed a complaint at CAF over the ineligibility of their coach and two of their players for the two-legged fixture last month, have another case yet again.

This time, their case is from a local rival after CS Manika filed a complaint following a match in DR Congo’s top flight Linafoot, accusing the Lubumbashi-based club of fielding an ineligible player. Burkina Faso international Dramane Kambou is the player in question.

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As per DR Congo outlet Foot RDC, Manika claims Kambou was suspended in last season’s final league match between Lupopo and AS Maniema Union and therefore, should have missed the opening encounter of the 2025-26 season against them on October 30, when the Lubumbashi-based side won 1-0.

Manika believe Lupopo violated the rules and want sanctions meted on their league rivals, citing Article 65 of the Disciplinary and Ethical Code.

Lupopo have, however, dismissed those claims, saying the Burkinabe midfielder was eligible to play for them in the season-opening league game.

That complaint comes a few days after the Congolese league’s disciplinary committee sanctioned Lupopo for the chaos witnessed during their match with Maniema Union in June.

Kambou and Djo Issama were suspended for the next match while Patou Kabangu was warned for unsporting conduct. Meanwhile, Sefu Ngongo was handed a four-match ban for insulting the assistant referee.

It remains to be seen how the latest matter will be resolved as Lupopo still wait to know their fate regarding the Pirates case, which they have dismissed as lacking merit.