Andrew Olsson
March 3, 2026Linafoot update: TP Mazembe maintain winning form; races heat up for top-4 positions
Photo: TP Mazembe
Linafoot update: TP Mazembe maintain winning form; races heat up for top-4 positions
TP Mazembe remain at the top of their group in DR Congo’s Linafoot (a.k.a. Ilicocash Ligue 1) while the race for qualification to the championship stage continues to heat up.
The top four clubs from the two groups will qualify for an eight-team stage to determine the Congolese club champions as well as who will represent the nation in CAF interclub competitions next season. While the traditional heavyweights are well on pace for qualification, plenty remains to be determined with all clubs having less than five matches remaining in the initial phase.
Group A (Lubumbashi)
We are heading for a decisive final day Lushois Derby in Group A, which is based around the southeast city of Lubumbashi. TP Mazembe remain at the top of the table following Sunday’s 2-0 victory at Lubumbashi Sport.
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The Stade Frédéric Kibassa-Maliba witnessed a comfortable victory for the Ravens on a wet pitch. Around ten minutes in, TPM goalkeeper Marc Philips Arona Diouf’s long put caught the Lubumbashi Sport defense off guard and Dan Mbaya was able to move in on goal with little opposition before firing in the opening goal.
Lanjesi Nkhoma continued his impressive 2025-26 campaign by scoring the second goal close to the hour mark. A skilled combination down the right flank led a shot, with Nkhoma pouncing on the rebound to complete the victory.
Mazembe are poised to claim top spot while rivals FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo are also well established in second place, leaving both teams in comfortable positions to advance to the championship stage. However, with the two teams set to conclude the initial phase against each other in the Lushois Derby, top spot may still be at stake by then with bragging rights to fight for on March 8.
There were a couple of other notable results in the group. CS Don Bosco, holders of the fourth and final qualification spot, fell to relegation fighters JS Groupe Bazano 1-2 in another clash between Lubumbashi clubs.
Groupe Bazano are now only one point away from escaping relegation but there remains plenty of work to be done. A clash against TP Mazembe provides little prospect of further points but encouraging results give the club hope.
For CS Don Bosco, they remain in a strong position with a four-point advantage on fifth place club CS Manika but the 2012 Coupe du Congo champions have failed to win their last four matches.
Group B (Kinshasa)
As for Group B in based around the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, leaders and reigning champions Aigles du Congo remain at the top of the table. But they and second place AS Vita Club were both held to draws, with Aigles needing a last gasp equalizer from captain Mbiye Kayembe to draw 2-2 at Étoile du Kivu.
AS Vita Club, meanwhile, were held to a 0-0 draw by FC Celeste in another match from Sunday. Les Dauphins Noirs have only managed two goals in their last five matches, leaving them six points back of the leaders.
The situation leaves an opportunity open for AS Maniema Union. The club led by Congolese footballing legend Papy Kimoto are enjoying and excellent campaign, being the only club from the DRC to qualify for the knockout phase of a CAF interclub competition after reaching the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals.
Les Verts et Noirs did not have to take the pitch in in their latest domestic league fixture after being awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory over OC Renaissance. They are seven points behind Aigles du Congo in third place but with two games in hand on both Aigles and VClub.
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