CAFCL: Lupopo delivered strong statement – Jacques

FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo team that thrilled on and off the pitch, have vowed to bounce back strongly in the next CAF Champions League edition.

The president of the Linafoot champions, Excellence Jacques, made the promise soon after their 2-0 away loss to Al Hilal Omdurman in Rwanda on Saturday ended the Champions League adventure for Group C.

📸 Retour à la base ! Les Cheminots sont de retour à Lubumbashi 🛬💪.

Focus immédiat sur le prochain match : le FC Saint Éloi Lupopo affronte le FC Tanganyika ce dimanche 22 février à domicile (Lubumbashi) 🏟️⚽.

Ensemble, poussons l’équipe vers la victoire ! 🔥🟡🔵… pic.twitter.com/dGziRKjyeU

— FC Saint Eloi Lupopo (@fcsteloilupopo) February 16, 2026

Why Lupopo boss is proud of campaign

The Lupopo boss said he was proud of his team for inking its piece of history by competing strongly against giants such as Al Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns, who both made it to the quarterfinal stage from the group.

“I want to take a moment to thank you for your incredible commitment and determination throughout our CAF Champions League journey,” he said.

“We have written a page of history for our club and our country, and I am proud of each one of you.”

Lupopo presidents on competing with Sundowns

“After years of waiting, the Cheminots reintegrated into the court of the greats, competing with the giants of the continent in a relatable group alongside Al Hilal, Mamelodi Sundowns and MC Alger. We have proven that Lupopo is again a force that matters in Africa.”

Jacques chose to look at the brighter side of the Congolese team’s elimination from the group stage, saying they had learnt a lot, which will add value to their future participation in the continental league.

“Despite the elimination, I am convinced that we have shown our value and potential,” the president added. “We faced top-tier teams and gave it everything we had. Want to thank the technical staff for their hard work. You led this team with passion and professionalism.

“To the players, ‘thank you for your courage and team spirit’. You represented our club and country with pride and honour. And to the supporters, thank you for your unconditional support. Your energy and passion have driven us. Now, we will focus on the rest of the season and the goals we set. We are a strong team and we will keep working to achieve our dreams.”

Lupopo finished at the bottom of Group C with five points collected from 1-0 victory over MC Alger, a draw with Sundowns and Al-Hilal, all played at home.

The Congolese side struggled on the road, losing all three games, including 2-0 to MC Alger in Algeria and 3-1 to Sundowns in South Africa.

Guy Bukasa’s side qualified for the group stage in dramatic fashion after upsetting favourites Orlando Pirates in the final qualifying round that produced red cards, penalties, fines and plenty of drama.

Lupopo thoroughly entertained neutrals, proving there is more to DRC football beyond TP Mazembe and AS Vita.