Orlando Pirates’ appeal against Congolese side St Eloi Lupopo over alleged fielding of ineligible players and a suspended coach in their CAF Champions League encounter has made significant progress. The Pirates were eliminated from the competition by Lupopo after a penalty shootout followed a 3-3 aggregate draw, but controversy has surrounded the match, leading to the South African club’s formal complaint.
The complaint focuses on three key issues: the eligibility of two players—Henoc Molia and Ramos Khashala Wanet—and the involvement of Lupopo’s coach, Guy Bukasa, in the match. According to Pirates, Bukasa should not have been on the bench during the game as he had previously been suspended by CAF due to his involvement in a brawl during an Under-20 AFCON match between DR Congo and South Africa. The players, Molia and Wanet, are also at the center of the dispute, with Molia allegedly being registered outside the official transfer window, and Wanet’s dual citizenship and potential fraudulent registration under two passports being questioned.
CAF’s Head of Communications, Luxolo September, confirmed that the Confederation of African Football had received Pirates’ appeal and was processing the case through its judicial structures. However, September emphasized that the outcome of the appeal would depend on the independent decisions of CAF’s judicial bodies. While CAF is handling the situation, September refrained from commenting on the expected timeline or outcome of the case.
As the situation stands, St Eloi Lupopo continues to hold their place in the group stages of the CAF Champions League, placed in a challenging Group C alongside South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Algeria’s MC Alger, and Sudan’s Al-Hilal. However, if Pirates’ appeal is successful, Lupopo may be disqualified, and Pirates could be reinstated in the group stages in their place.
The case between Orlando Pirates and St Eloi Lupopo has captured the attention of football fans across Africa, as the Buccaneers remain hopeful of being granted another opportunity in the prestigious competition. Whether they will reclaim their spot in the group stages remains to be seen, as CAF’s judicial process continues to unfold.
