CAF Confederation Cup: Lupopo fight for survival against Al Akhdar

The return to the top level of African football is proving far from easy for FC Saint Eloi Lupopo. The yellow-and-blue club from Lubumbashi, back in the group stage of a CAF club competition after seven years away, are struggling to find their feet. The Railwaymen of Lubumbashi are already on the brink after losing their first two group-stage matches in the Confederation Cup, respectively against USM Alger of Algeria (0-3) and Marumo Gallants of South Africa (1-2). This Sunday, the Congolese host Libya's Al Akhard on matchday three, a game they must win to get back into the race for a quarter-final place in Group A, where leaders Marumo Gallants of South Africa have 6 points.

Board reiterates its confidence in the coach

To make a success of their African campaign, the FC Saint Eloi Lupopo board turned to Malian coach Mohamed Magassouba, in whom they have reaffirmed their confidence despite the two defeats so far. Club president Jacques Kyabula believes the run of poor results the club has gone through is temporary and that things will fall back into place very quickly. Jacques Kyabula has also asked the club's supporters not to dwell on negative criticism but to get behind their team in search of a first win this Sunday.

Cast out the demons of division

FC Saint Éloi Lupopo showed a much better face in the second match, a 1-2 defeat by Marumo Gallant, than in the first, a 0-3 loss to USM Alger. Club coach Mohamed Magassouba hopes his players will be better still this Sunday against Al Akhdar to grind out the win, and he is also calling on all supporters to come together. " I dare to believe that the players are now in better recovery conditions and that they are also in a good place mentally. I think they are ready to approach this match with a lot of calm and determination to win this game against Al Akhdar. If the club is going through a difficult period, we must not have a negative attitude. Let us put aside the petty squabbles and bring the Lupopo family together. We are one team, we must cast out the demons of division. We are ready to unite and move forward, " he said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Large number of supporters expected at the stadium

Having chosen not to play at the TP Mazembe stadium, the only approved ground in the DR Congo, FC Saint Eloi Lupopo are hosting their opponents at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola, Zambia, more than 200 km from their Lubumbashi stronghold. To get there, supporters have to cross the border, with plenty of formalities to complete and money to spend. Many fans did not travel to the stadium in Ndola for Lupopo's first home game, against Marumo Gallants of South Africa, despite the support of the club's board. But for this must-win match, the club's officials have made an even greater effort to get a large number of supporters there to back a team who will badly need it as they go in search of victory this Sunday. Kick-off is at 13:00 GMT.

Masiala Jonathan