The world’s attention may be lost in Russia where the biggest sporting event, the World Cup, is currently taking place, but thousand miles away in DR Congo, Central Africa, the battle for the country’s domestic league is raging.
Two playoffs games that could decide where the Ligue 1 gong will land took place Saturday in the capital Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the mining capital of the country.
The ties attracted capacity crowds as the top flight’s popularity continues to soar.
At Mazembe Stadium, the hosts edged out visiting Sanga Balende 2-1 to end the Mbuji-Mayi side’s unbeaten run this season.
Isaac Amoah put Sanga Balende in the lead with a fine free-kick in the 30th minute, but Zambian forward Rainford Kalaba restored parity nine minutes later from inside the box.
Mischek Elia found the winner in the 67th minute with a grass cutter off Kalaba’s pass to seal all the three points for the coach Pamphile Mihayo’s men.
The victory took the defending champions top of the log standings on 44 points, three off second placed AS Vita, who have played two games less.
Sanga Balende, who have a game to spare, are third with 40 points.
With a few matches to the end of the season, Balende will be hard pressed to explain how they let go a healthy lead a few weeks ago and put into jeopardy their quest for a first league title since 1983.
Dauphins Noir obliteration
At 50 thousand capacity Tata Raphael Stadium, Kinshasa, hosts AS Vita Club drabbed strugglers Dauphin Noir 8-0 to inch closer to dethroning Mazembe for their first title since 2015.
Three players Ngimbi, Mombo and Diba each grabbed a brace for the coach Florent Ibenge’s charges with Luzolo and Sidibe netted a goal each to seal the humongous win.
Vita, who boast 13 titles, three less than Mazembe, could go two points clear at the top if they win their two matches in hand.
They travel to Mbuji-Mayi Wednesday to face the wounded Sanga Balende in their next outing.
