LINAFOOT: The favorites for the playoffs
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All original articlesThe 8 clubs qualified for the playoffs of the DRC Ligue 1 championship have been known since Wednesday. All the favorites are at the meeting except for the Daring Club motema Pembe.
In the DRC, there are only three games left before the end of the classic phase of the Ligue 1 championship that will take place this weekend. In group B, AS Maniema Union will receive Daring Club motema Pembe in Kindu while AF Anges Verts will face New Jak FC in Kinshasa. Meanwhile, in group A, Sanga Balende will face AS Malole. But the suspense has come to an end since Wednesday when the final sprint for the last playoff spots reached its climax in Group B.
An unbreathable final sprint in group B
If all four clubs qualified for the playoffs had been known for nearly two weeks in group A without much surprise with Mazembe, Lupopo, Don Bosco and Simba, in group B the final sprint was unbearable to determine the last two clubs to qualify for the playoffs, with FC Les Aigles du Congo and AS Maniema Uinon. Indeed, three clubs, holding on to 2 points, namely, V club, Dauphin noir and Celeste FC were fighting for these last two places. And everything was to be decided on the last day.
More than ranked of all, AS Dauphin Noir had to win their last match against AC Ranger to qualify while hoping for missteps from their two direct competitors. The Goma club won their match by forfeiture against Rangers, who did not make the trip to Kindu, but was unable to qualify because in other matches, V. Club and Celeste FC also recorded victories respectively against OC Renaissance (3-2) and against FC Les Aigles du Congo (2-1), thus confirming their qualifications.
Celeste creates the sensation, DCMP the great absent
This is a first playoff qualification for Celeste FC. The club of Mbandaka, who play in Kinshasa, achieved a feat by snatching their qualification this season after having failed by a little last season. The big absentee from the playoffs will be Darling Club Motema Pembe which was weakened by a deduction of 24 points on decision of FIFA following financial disputes with its former coaches. At present, DCMP is also struggling to recover its points in order to avoid relegation to the second division. The playoff start date is not yet known.