Saint Eloi Lupopo Coach Praises Team After CAF Champions League Draw With Mamelodi Sundowns

FC Saint Éloi Lupopo's assistant coach, Karim Hendou, has praised his team's performance following their 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in a crucial CAF Champions League group stage encounter.

The match, held in Lubumbashi on Sunday, saw the home side take an early lead. Enoch Molia found the back of the net in the 19th minute, giving Saint Eloi Lupopo a first-half advantage.

However, Mamelodi Sundowns fought back after the break, with Jayden Adams scoring the equaliser in the 55th minute.

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The shared points leave both clubs in a precarious position in Group C. Mamelodi Sundowns currently sit in third place, with Saint Eloi Lupopo in fourth, making the final round of group matches a do-or-die scenario for both teams.

Reflecting on the result, Karim Hendou expressed satisfaction with his squad's effort, particularly in the opening half, despite the disappointment of not securing a win.

"We drew, but for me, we played a very good match," Hendou stated, according to FootDRC. "A very, very good match, especially in the first half, where we scored a goal before conceding from a set piece in the second half."

Looking ahead, the assistant coach was resolute about his team's chances of advancing. With their qualification hopes hanging by a thread, Saint Eloi Lupopo faces a must-win final group game against Al Hilal.

"We have one match left, and to qualify, we must win," Hendou further declared. "And we will win in Kigali."

In their 2025/26 CAF Champions League campaign, Saint Eloi Lupopo has shown incredible resolve while navigating a challenging Group C.

Their path to the group stage was a thriller, as they narrowly overcame Al-Merrikh before pulling off a massive upset against Orlando Pirates, advancing on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

Once in the group stage, they faced a difficult start with a 3-1 away loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, but they quickly found their footing at home.

Saint Eloi Lupopo secured a massive 1-0 victory over MC Alger in Lubumbashi, thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time penalty converted by Michel Kimboutou.

They followed this up with two hard-fought 1-1 draws at home against Al-Hilal and Mamelodi Sundowns, with Enoch Molia netting an early goal in the recent clash against the South African giants.

Despite a 2-0 away setback against MC Alger, Saint Eloi Lupopo remain mathematically in the hunt for a quarter-final spot heading into the final round. Their destiny will be decided this weekend in a high-stakes away match against Al-Hilal Omdurman.