Showman Mukoko back for Sundowns opponents

Congo’s St Eloi Lupopo FC’s influential defender Dieumerci Mukoko has returned to training after a month on the sidelines.

The right-back was out of action due to an illness and suspension from the CAF Champions League matches for violent conduct against Orlando Pirates in October.

Now, Lupopo have confirmed that Mukoko has returned to training.

“Great news for St Eloi Lupopo FC! Our right-back, Merci Mukoko, embarks on a crucial phase of reathletization under the careful supervision of our physical trainer, Yassine Salmi. After a period of illness that kept him off the pitch, Mukoko is back in full form and preparing to return to his best. The squad is happy to be back!,” reads the club’s facebook page.

Why CAF banned Mukoko

CAF hit Mukoko with two-match ban for misconduct during Lupopo’s dramatic qualification battle against Pirates at Orlando Stadium in SouthAfrica.

Lupopo ultimately secured their place in the group stage after a hard-fought tie. Though they lost the second leg 3-0, their identical 3-0 victory in the first leg meant the aggregate score was tied at 3-3, allowing the Congolese team to advance after a tense penalty shootout.

That second leg, however, was marred by dramatic incidents and volatile behaviour.

Mukoko was at the heart of the controversy, with his actions including an attempted headbutt on Pirates’ Masindi Nemtajela and a deliberate stomp on the heel of Oswin Appollis.

His provocative, animated celebrations directed at the Pirates bench after winning duels were also flagged as unsporting conduct.

In one of the match’s most theatrical moments, Mukoko dramatically exaggerated a fall after a minor shove from Pirates’ Tshepang Moremi, rolling on the turf while clutching his face, an action that drew widespread criticism.

CAF suspended Mukoko for two Champions League competition matches for “assault and unsporting behaviour against an opponent [Appollis], in accordance with Articles 11 and 123 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.”

The suspension immediately ruled Mukoko out of the crucial fixture against Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium and subsequent group stage match against Al Hilal SC in November.

Mukoko is expected to return to Champions League action against MC Alger back-to-back next month before welcoming Sundowns in February.