By Mark Gleeson

Lupopo will not play in Lubumbashi

FC St Eloi Lupopo made a miraculous recovery after a home defeat in the first leg of their Champions League tie to reach the second round.

They are hoping that spirit and tenacity will see them through to the lucrative last eight of the competition.

The Lubumbashi-based club will be seeking to emulate the feat of their city rivals TP Mazembe Englebert, who last year went all the way to the semi-finals.

But a ban on the Lubumbashi stadium this year, because of its poor surface, means that the club effectively play all their match away.

Their 'home' ties in the Champions League are played at Kinshasa, where the atmosphere is decidedly in favour of the visitors.

It is the fourth time that the side are competing in Africa's top club competition but it is their first appearance since 1991.

Their best performance came in 1982, when they reached the semi-finals, only to lose to Asante Kotoko. They were also quarterfinalists in 1969.

Previously known as FC St Eloi, the club were the first-ever winners of the Congolese national championship in 1958.

They have gone on to win five further championship titles, with their 1990 championship win being the first time that the league had been nationally organised.

But the provincial format has subsequently been re-introduced, beating Motema Pembe to the title.

Lupopo are managed by Mohammed Magassouba, the Malian-born trainer who took Motema Pembe to the Cup Winners' Cup title and was also national coach of DR Congo.

Players in the squad include former Congolese international Katalay Mujanya but star striker Kapamba Musasa was sold to South African club Kaizer Chiefs last year.

Honours
Winners Congolese (formerly Zairian)National Championship - 1958, 1968, 1981, 1986, 1990 and 2002

Winners Congo Cup - 1968