St Eloi Lupopo have rubbished Orlando Pirates’ complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), insisting that the South African club has no case following their dramatic CAF Champions League preliminary round encounter.
The Congolese side knocked Pirates out of the competition after a tense penalty shootout, with the two teams tied 3-3 on aggregate. However, the Soweto giants filed a series of appeals to CAF, contesting the eligibility of certain Lupopo players and the presence of their coach on the touchline during the decisive match.
Pirates lodged three complaints—one targeting Lupopo coach Guy Bukasa and two concerning players Henoc Molia and Ramos Khashala Wanet. The South African outfit claimed Bukasa should not have been allowed to sit on the bench as he was allegedly serving a suspension from a previous CAF competition. They also argued that Molia was registered outside the official transfer window, while Wanet allegedly possessed two passports, creating confusion over his identity and registration.
Responding to the allegations, Lupopo’s chief executive Jean-Luc Kapend dismissed the claims, asserting that Pirates’ complaints were built on misinformation sourced from social media rather than official documents. According to Kapend, both players were properly registered, and all procedures were followed in compliance with CAF’s rules.
He explained that Wanet’s registration took place on 29 September, just a day before the transfer window closed, making him fully eligible to play. As for Molia, the CEO clarified that the confusion arose due to the renewal of the player’s passport, which was legally updated before his registration. Kapend emphasized that CAF had verified and approved all player documents before the competition began.
On the matter of coach Bukasa’s supposed suspension, Kapend stated that the disciplinary ruling applied only to national team competitions, not club matches. He noted that CAF’s official list of suspended individuals did not include Bukasa’s name, confirming his eligibility to oversee Lupopo from the dugout.
Confident in their compliance, Lupopo are preparing for the group stage of the Champions League, where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns, MC Alger, and Al-Hilal. Kapend expressed full assurance that their qualification stands firm and that CAF’s decision will uphold their rightful place in the tournament.
