Squads are required to be announced ahead of matchdays in football. Players who are illegiable for whatever reason aren't allowed to be part of the squad. This applies to all competitions. If a team field an ineligible player, there are consequences to be faced.
Unfortunately, teams still tend to do this. It's up to the opposing team to identify this and report it to the respective board. This is exactly what has happened with South African side, Orlando Pirates and their second CAF Champions League qualifying match against Congolese side, FC Saint Eloi Lupopo. It also included when Eswatini side, Nsingizini Hotspurs, faced Tanzanian side, Simba SC
Orlando Pirates have officially lodged three complaints with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following their controversial CAF Champions League exit at the hands of Congolese side, FC Saint Eloi Lupopo.
The Buccaneers, who were eliminated on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw, are contesting the eligibility of Lupopo’s head coach and two players, seeking potential reinstatement into the group stage. The matter will now be reviewed by CAF’s disciplinary committee, with a ruling expected before the group phase begins next month.
The drama unfolded over two legs in the second preliminary round. Pirates suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in the first leg in Lubumbashi on a reportedly poor artificial pitch; before mounting a comeback with a 3-0 win in the return fixture at Orlando Stadium on 25 October 2025.
However, they fell 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out, ending their Champions League hopes and shifting them to the Confederation Cup. The complaints add a twist, potentially giving Pirates a lifeline if CAF finds merit in their claims.
This incident highlights ongoing issues in African football, including eligibility disputes and officiating errors, which have plagued competitions like the Champions League. For South African fans, it’s a bitter pill after Pirates’ strong domestic form but it underscores the need for stricter enforcement of rules to ensure fair play.
Pirates’ grievances focus on three key figures from Lupopo, each tied to potential rule violations:
- Head Coach Guy Bukasa: The primary complaint centres on Bukasa’s eligibility to coach during the tie. Reports indicate he was serving a six-match ban imposed by CAF for a disciplinary offence committed while leading the DR Congo U-20 team at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Pirates argue this suspension should have barred him from the dug out, rendering Lupopo’s participation invalid.
- Player Molia (Chris Sumbu Maniania): This stems from a controversial red card incident during the second leg. Lupopo’s Dieumerci Mukoko Amale allegedly headbutted Pirates’ Masindi Nemtajela after a goal but referee, Youssef Srairi, mistakenly sent off Maniania instead in a case of mistaken identity. Pirates are challenging this, claiming Amale should have been dismissed, potentially altering the match’s outcome.
- Player Kashala (Wanet Kashala Ramos): The third complaint questions Kashala’s registration for the Champions League. The striker, who scored in the first leg, was reportedly registered on 29 September 2025, within the 1-30 September window. However, Pirates allege irregularities, arguing he was ineligible to feature.
Lupopo CEO, Jean-Luc Kapend, dismissed the claims, insisting Bukasa’s ban applied only to national team duties and that Kashala’s registration was verified with CAF. "At this stage, we’re not cheating," Kapend stated.
The first leg in Lubumbashi saw Pirates humbled 3-0 on what coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, described as a sub-standard pitch, contributing to their poor performance. Lupopo’s goals came from Kashala and others, exposing defensive frailties.
In the return leg at Orlando Stadium, Pirates roared back with a 3-0 win, thanks to strikes from Monnapule Saleng, Evidence Makgopa and Tshepang Moremi. The match was marred by heated moments, including the red card incident that saw Moremi and Maniania dismissed. Despite the comeback, Pirates faltered in the shoot-out, with Lupopo advancing 5-4.
Post-match, Ouaddou condemned Lupopo’s "unsporting antics," insisting his players would never behave that way. Former FIFA referee, Jerome Damon, backed Pirates’ view on the mistaken identity, suggesting CAF could suspend Amale for three group stage matches if appealed successfully.
Lupopo has refuted claims of mistreating Pirates during their Lubumbashi stay, calling allegations "defamatory and malicious." In a statement, the club insisted it provided high standards of hospitality, compliant with CAF rules. "Football Club Saint Eloi Lupopo wishes to firmly and categorically deny the accusations that it deliberately provided deplorable logistical conditions," it read.
Lupopo’s general secretary, Don Jean-Luc Kapend, however, has dismissed the reports insisting that his club will play in the CAF Champions’ League group stages.
"Article 29.6 of the 2025 CAF competition regulations is clear. Suspensions of more than one match only apply to the category in which they were imposed, in this case the U20s," Kapend told Congolese football outlet, Foot RDC.
"Today, everything is computerised. The schedule for the second round was from September 1 to 30. Kashala was registered in the CMS system on September 29. At this stage, we’re not cheating. FC Lupopo will play in the group stage,” added Kapend.
Pirates had raised concerns about the pitch and facilities but Lupopo maintained everything was up to standard.
Meanwhile, Eswatini Premier League side, Nsingizini Hotspurs FC, have lodged an official complaint with CAF against Simba SC head coach, Dimitar Pantev, following their elimination from the CAF Champions League.
Hotspurs, under the guidance of former Orlando Pirates development coach, Mandla Qhogi, suffered a 3–0 defeat on aggregate to the Tanzanian Premier League giants in the preliminary round of the competition.
In their statement, Hotspurs allege that Pantev, who took over from South African tactician, Fadlu Davids, only a few weeks prior to the match, was ineligible to sit on the bench during the fixture held in Eswatini.
"We have established that Mr. Pantev Dimitar Nikolaev (Head coach) has no required qualification and has played a pivotal role in the two matches in question while we have addressed this with opposition in the first leg," reads the club's statement.
"According to CAF rules a coach who does not possess the necessary qualifications shall not sit on the bench during the matches of CAF inter club competitions.
"Our opposition (SIMBA SC) from Tanzania applied some tricks to dodge the system and the rules by registering an illegible technical team members from the one who appeared in the matchday (Mr. Seleman Abdallan Matola, Mr. Darian Oliveria Goncalves Wilken, Wayne Sandilands. Mr. Matola was on grandstand because he did not have the necessary documents to sit on the bench.
"Mr. Wilken is currently the first Assistant coach while Mr. Sandilands is the current Goalkeeper coach at Raja Athletic Club, who are no longer with the team.
"Therefore, they submitted a team list with Mr. P Dimitar Nikolaev as a team manager on both matches (1st leg 19/10/2025) while he is the head coach of the team (SIMBA SC).
"Mr. Boyko Kamaenov Simeonov is an assistant coach, however he was registered as team staff because he did not have the necessary credentials. Bothe officials were involved coaching in both first and second leg matches."
For the Champions League and Confederation Cup matches, coaches are meant to have a CAF A or CAF Pro License or equivalent. Nsingizini played Simba in the last preliminary round before the group stages and the Tanzanian giants won the clash 3-0 on aggregate.
Nsingizini want CAF to investigate the matter and hope they can be reinstated in the competition.
The complaint sent to CAF by Nsingizini reads as follows:
"1. We have established that Mr. Pantev Dimitar Nikolaev (Head coach) has no required qualification and has played a pivotal role in the two matches in question while we have addressed this with opposition in the first leg. According to CAF rules a coach who does not possess the necessary qualifications shall not sit on the bench during the matches of CAF inter club competitions.
2. Our opposition (SIMBA SC) from Tanzania applied some tricks to dodge the system and the rules by registering an illegible technical team members from the one who appeared in the matchday (Mr. Seleman Abdallan Matola, Mr. Darian Oliveria Goncalves Wilken, Wayne Sandilands. Mr. Matola was on grandstand because he did not have the necessary documents to sit on the bench. Mr. Wilken is currently the first Assistant coach while Mr. Sandilands is the current Goalkeeper coach at RAJA ATHLETIC CLUB (FORMERLY KNOWN AS RAJA CASABLANCA) who are no longer with the team.
"Therefore, they submitted a team list with Mr. P Dimitar Nikolaev as a team manager on both matches (1st leg 19/10/2025) while he is the head coach of the team (SIMBA SC). Mr. Boyko Kamaenov Simeonov is an assistant coach, however he was registered as team staff because he did not have the necessary credentials. Both officials were involved coaching in both first and second leg matches."
I don't know which way these cases will sway but I am certain of one thing: cheaters should be punished. If they don't get caught, they might continue to do it. They have to learn a lesson. Cheating can't last forever. Eventually, they will all get caught - no matter how many times they might deny it.