FC St Eloi Lupopo suffered an unexpected defeat on their own ground against the Bravos dos Maquis team, with a score of 1-2 during a match that took place on Sunday, September 22, 2024. A bitter defeat for the Lumpa who were hoping for a comeback. Both on the pitch and in the stands, the dismay was palpable. The Frédéric Kibasa Maliba stadium, which hosted a prestigious match after nine long years, unfortunately did not bring luck to the players of coach Mohamed Magassouba.
Despite the incessant incursions, the overflows, the crosses and the long shots of the determined Cheminots, it was finally two well-placed goals from the Maquisards that penalized the Yellow and Blues in the final minutes of the match. The level of play of the team did not live up to the expectations of coach Magassouba. Despite a massive recruitment of more than 15 new players, the results are slow to materialize. The coach, formerly of Daing Club Motema Pembe, emphasizes that “the progression of a team is built over time.” He insists on the fact that the progression, even minimal, is underway and that it must be respected. He adds that the players are open to learning and that they will progress with the necessary serenity. He recalls that it is by facing the big ones that they will become competitors in their own right.
The defeat against Bravos is explained, according to Magassouba, by the need for a coach to have quality elements at his disposal. He compares this to a Formula 1 race, where it is essential to have the best cars. Despite its efforts, the Lupopo team is not yet at the level of the big clubs because of the limited means at its disposal to recruit world-class players.
This new setback seems to symbolize a persistent stagnation of the Lupopo team, which is struggling to make progress in African competition. Despite the investments made, the results are not there. Magassouba’s methods and the frequent changes within the team contribute to keeping the club in a deadlock. After a difficult start to the season marked by a draw and a defeat, the team seems to be prey to a negative dynamic that began during the last playoffs, jeopardizing its qualification for the next continental competitions.
The current situation of FC St Eloi Lupopo raises questions about its ability to compete with the big teams on the continent. Despite the efforts made, it seems that adjustments are necessary to allow the team to regain its form and its place among the most successful clubs. The next matches will be decisive in measuring the team’s ability to bounce back and return to victory on the African scene.