CAF Rejects Pirates' Protest Against St Lupopo: Key Developments

Orlando Pirates' Protest Against St Lupopo Dismissed by CAF

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has dismissed Orlando Pirates' protest concerning the eligibility of Congolese coach Guy Bukasa and several players from St Lupopo. The dispute arose after Pirates were eliminated by Lupopo on penalties in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, amidst accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct aimed at the South African team.

Following their elimination, Pirates formally challenged the eligibility of players Wanet Kashala and Molia Lihozasia. However, Lupopo firmly stated that both players were “duly registered” for the competition.

The contention surrounding coach Bukasa's status was significant, considering he had received a six-match suspension from CAF while coaching the Congo U/20 team in a prior incident. Despite this, CAF's Club Competitions Committee dismissed all aspects of the Pirates' protest.

In a detailed response, CAF affirmed the legality of St Lupopo's roster and clarified that Bukasa’s presence on the bench during the match did not incur any penalties against his club. Nevertheless, CAF upheld Bukasa's suspension and imposed a fine due to his previous actions.

Furthermore, following the complaint, CAF penalized Orlando Pirates, imposing a financial sanction of $5,000 for failing to provide necessary accreditations to FC St Eloi Lupopo and an additional $20,000 for vandalizing their opponents’ locker rooms.

This ruling reinforces St Lupopo's prior accomplishments in the competition and positions them firmly as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League group-stage match against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.