CAF CUP: Maniema Union's historic qualification

It is a dream that becomes reality for the AS Maniema Union. The club of Kindu qualified for the very first time in the quarter-finals of the Confederation Cup, a historic first by the way for the Unionists in all the CAF interclub cups combined.
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‎The Congolese club finished second in their group (12 points) behind the Moroccan club Wydad de Casablanca (15 points). This qualification stems from a recipe that has been able to bear fruit. 

Stability on the bench
This qualification bears the signature of a coach, in the person of Papy Kimoto who was able to give back to the club’s executive committee which trusted him even during periods when results did not arrive.

Grandpa Kimoto will soon spend 4 years at the head of the technical staff of the AS Maniema Union. Arrived during the 2021-2022 season, he was unable to qualify the club for the CAF interclub cups 2022-2203 nor those of the 2023-2024 edition without being too worried by the team’s management. A choice of patience that paid off, because the following season, the Congolese technician was able to qualify the team for the first time in its history at the group stage of the Champions League.

‎A difficult learning process for Maniema Union who finished last in his group while leaving a very good impression with high quality performances against African football champions like Mamelodi Sundows, AS FAR and Raja Casablanca. And this season, Papy Kimoto managed to qualify Maniema Union in the group phase of the CAF interclubs for the second time in a row, this time in the Confederation Cup with a historic qualification in the quarter-finals.

A well-reinforced framework
‎‎This success is also the result of great teamwork with a well-reinforced workforce. Indeed, after their participation in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, the AS Maniema Union lost some of their senior players like midfielder Joseph Bakasu, who went to Wydad from Casablanca, winger Agée Basiala Amogo and especially his forward-flagship center and top scorer, Jephtée Kitambala, who went to the Azam FC Tanzanian. But the club of Kindu managed to keep a good backbone, reinforced with talented players such as striker Beny Namboka, one of the best scorers in the Illicocash Ligue 1 championship (9 goals). A rewarding choice because the Brazilian scored 3 of the 8 goals by Maniema union during the group stage.
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‎The Unionists also used the experience they gained in the Champions League last season to do better this season in the Confederation Cup, acknowledged coach Papy Kimoto. In the quarter-finals, AS Maniema Union will face the Algerian club USM Alger.