Linafoot: TP Mazembe and Maniema Union continue to set the pace

DR Congo’s participants in the CAF Champions League this season, TP Mazembe and AS Maniema Union, have not let the extra matches from continental competition affect their efforts in the DRC’s top flight Linafoot (a.k.a. Illicocash Ligue 1).

Both TPM and Maniema Union earned narrow victories this week to maintain strong positions at the top of their respective groups. Maniema Union have won four domestic league matches in a row following Thursday’s 1-0 result over Aigles du Congo. A first half goal from Mbala Titan confirmed maximum points for the club from Kindu.

Like Maniema Union, legendary Congolese giants TP Mazembe were eliminated at the group stage in the Champions League but the form of the Ravens has been almost flawless in the Linafoot. Nigerien international Ousseini Badamossi and Mauritania national team full back Ibrahima Keita gave TPM a two-goal lead before conceding a second half consolation in their 2-1 victory over FC Tanganyika.

A couple of traditional Congolese powerhouses suffered disappointing results. DC Motema Pembe, in AS Maniema Union’s group, fell by a decisive score in their 4-1 defeat to AC Rangers. Elsewhere in the group that is based around the capital of Kinshasa, AS Vita Club faced top division newcomers New Jack and could only manage a 1-1 draw to the last placed team.

Play continues this weekend with Saint-Eloi Lupopo, second place behind TP Mazembe in the group based in the eastern half of the nation, among the clubs in action. The top six finishers in each of the two groups qualifies for the final stage to determine the league champions and qualified teams for CAF club competition while the remainder of the clubs enter a relegation stage.

League Table

Group A (Based in the south and east)

Group B (Based around Kinshasa)