Tandi Mwape (left) and Kabaso Chongo, two of the four Mazembe players suspended by CAF.
Tandi Mwape (left) and Kabaso Chongo, two of four Mazembe players suspended by CAF.
This is very bad news for Tout Puissant Mazembe ahead of their CAF Champions League round of 16 debut. The Crows will have to start the C1 without four of their players. And not just any players: midfielder Christian Koffi Kouame, striker Philippe Kinzumbi and defenders Kabaso Chongo and Tandi Mwape.
If the fourth is suspended for accumulating yellow cards, the first three have received a heavy sanction from CAF. They were suspended for four matches as a result of tensions that arose after TP Mazembe lost (1-4), synonymous with elimination, to RS Berkane in the semi-final second leg of the last Champions League. In a report damning these three players, the Senegalese referee of the match, Maguette Ndiaye, having underlined to have inflicted them red cards.
Kouame, Kinzumbi and Chongo will miss the double confrontation against Vipers SC (Uganda) counting for the 16th final as well as the first two matches of the Champions League group phase in case of qualification.
TP Mazembe visits Vipers on Sunday, October 9 in Kampala before hosting them in Lubumbashi on Saturday, October 15.
