Saint Eloi Lupopo’s assistant boss Karim Hendou has thrown down the gauntlet, vowing his side “will win” their final CAF Champions League group stage showdown after a battling 1-1 draw with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The Congolese outfit’s dreams of a historic quarter final now rest on one massive away trip.
A packed house in Lubumbashi saw Enoch Molia fire the hosts into a first half lead on Sunday, only for Jayden Adams to level for Sundowns after the break from a set piece. The shared points leaves Group C on a knife edge, with both sides languishing outside the qualification spots heading into the final round.
But Hendou was defiant, praising his team’s spirit despite the two points dropped. “We drew, but for me, we played a very good match. A very, very good match, especially in the first half,” he told FootDRC. “We scored a goal before conceding from a set piece in the second half. That’s football.”
The maths is simple now for the DR Congo champions. They must beat Sudan’s Al Hilal in Kigali on the final matchday to have any hope of progressing. Hendou’s message was unequivocal. “We have one match left, and to qualify, we must win,” he declared. “And we will win in Kigali.”
It’s been a campaign defined by resilience for Lupopo. They stunned Orlando Pirates on penalties to reach the groups, and have scrapped for every point since. A last gasp penalty from Michel Kimboutou earned a famous win over MC Alger here, and they’ve now taken four points from their two home games against Al Hilal and Sundowns.
But their away form is the worry. A 2-0 loss in Algeria means they travel to a neutral venue in Rwanda knowing nothing but three points will do. The squad has shown they’ve got the fight, but needing a win on the road is the ultimate test.
The stage is set for a dramatic finale. Sundowns face MC Alger, hoping for a favour from Lupopo against Al Hilal. For Hendou and his men, it’s the kind of high stakes scenario they’ve revelled in so far. They’ve promised a win. Now they’ve got to go out and deliver it, or their brave Champions League journey ends here.
