The DRC's Ligue 1 play-offs kick off this Friday, March 1, with AS Maniema Union taking on AS Dauphin Noir at Kindu's Joseph Kabila Stadium. This is the decisive phase of the DRC's elite championship, at the end of which three of the country's four representatives to the 2024-2025 CAF interclubs will be known.
After a two-month break, the Congolese Ligue 1 championship resumes this Friday with the start of the play-off phase. AS Maniema Union host AS Dauphin Noir at Kindu's Joseph Kabila stadium. Taking part in the play-offs are the top eight teams from the first phase of the championship (the top four from the two first-round groups), namely TP Mazembe, AS V.Club, FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, AS Mainema Union, CS Don Bosco, FC Lubumbashi sport, AS Dauphin noir and FC Les Aigles du Congo. The stakes are high for this decisive phase of the championship, at the end of which the top two ranked clubs will qualify for the next CAF Champions League, while the third-placed club will play in the next Confederation Cup together with the winner of the Congo Cup.
Mazembe, V.Club, Lupopo and Maniema Union favourites for the title
For this latest edition, Tout Puissant Mazembe and AS V.club, the two most successful clubs in the DRC (18 titles for Mazembe and 15 for V.club), are still favourites for the title. But to these two must be added AS Maniema Union and FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, who finished top of their respective groups at the end of the first round. Lupopo finished top of Group A ahead of TP Mazembe, while Maniema Union finished top of Group B ahead of AS V.club, whom they beat in both legs. Lumpas de Lupopo and Unionistes de Maniema Union are therefore determined to go for the title.
Don Bosco, Lubumbashi sport, Dauphin noir and Aigles du Congo Outsiders
The four remaining teams - Don Bosco, Lubumbashi sport, Dauphin noir and Aigles du Congo - are considered outsiders.But these four clubs can also lay claim to the title, given their results in the first round. Lubumbashi sport were the only team to beat Saint Eloi Lupopo, AS Dauphin Noir beat both AS V.Club and AS Maniema Union, while FC les Aigles du Congo beat AS V.club. The remarkable victories of these teams, considered to be second-rate, gave the championship a special flavour. AS Dauphin have made no secret of their ambitions. Their coach, Guy Lusadisu, has indicated that his team is aiming for the podium."We've prepared well and we're aiming for the podium to secure an African place next season. We'd like to thank our management committee for giving us the resources we need to go far. We've got a fine squad who did well in the first half of the championship. It's true that it's going to be tough with all the big boys, but we're going to do well in these play-offs," he declared.
Going all the way after two interrupted seasons.
After being interrupted for two seasons for financial reasons, the DRC's elite championship is set to come to an end this season. The LINAFOOT management committee is holding a series of meetings to ensure that the championship will be successful this time round, knowing from the outset that the Congolese government would no longer be providing financial support. Meetings were also held to ensure better refereeing to avoid the kind of fan outbursts seen in the first phase of the championship."We have to make an effort to ensure that matches are won on the pitch, away from any administrative decisions. We also need to appoint better referees and match commissioners. This would avoid any action that could lead to matches being stopped as a result of bad behavior.And anyone who compromises in this way will be liable to severe sanctions," declared Bosco Mwehu, Chairman of the LIMAFOOT Management Committee, after the meeting with the Disciplinary and Competitions Committee.
Schedule for Matchday 1
Friday, March 1AS Maniema Union - AS Dauphin Noir
Saturday March 2nd
FC St Eloi Lupopo - CS Don Bosco
Sunday March 3rd
AS V.Club - FC Les Aigles du Congo
Wednesday, March 6
TP Mazembe - FC Lubumbashi Sport
