Kinshasa, May 19th, 2025 (CPA) – AS V.Club of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and TP Mazembe of Lubumbashi, in the south-east of the country, were scheduled to play in the 9th round of the National League of Football (Linafoot) championship at the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa on Tuesday, according to the calendar. Until recently, this major fixture was always considered a national classico, like others such as V.Club-DC Motema Pembe, Mazembe-Lupopo and so on. But at present, this national classico no longer exists in name on either side, and they hide behind the labels and colors of the two lacklustre outfits, spying on each other like cat and mouse. As proof of this, the two teams’ positions in the play-off rankings reflect their emptiness, despite the fact that, for many years, this pairing has always played the leading role. V.Club, which has been staggering and unsteady since the appointment of Bestine Kazadi to the management committee, are looking to stabilize their overall situation. During the current season, the Dauphins Noirs have seen almost 4 coaches come and go, without ever recovering their former trademark. Last season, V.Club climbed to the top step of the podium in the 58th Congo Football Cup by forceps, after the play-offs without any sanctifying outcome towards Africa in the interclubs.
Three wins and two draws for V.Club in 6 outings
With 24 hours to go before the start of this classic, the green and black club from Kinshasa are in fifth place, with 11 points from six outings, including a 3-0 defeat by Les Aigles. V.Club followed that up with three wins, over Sanga Balende and Anges Verts (1-0) and AS Simba (3-0), and two draws with AC Rangers (1-1) and DC Motema Pembe (0-0). For their part, TP Mazembe, who have always been the symbol of organizational stability and a squad that has always breathed fire, both domestically and on the continental stage, have lost all of their fearsome ogre looks.
Firepower at half-mast
On the technical front, the indicators are not far from red. In 6 outings, Mazembe have suffered 3 remarkable defeats, one at the hands of their eternal rivals, Saint Eloi Lupopo of Lubumbashi, by a score of 0-1, and two others against Aigles du Congo of Kinshasa (1-3) and Tanganyika of Kalemie (1-2), two newly promoted sides. The Ravens of Lusaka, meanwhile, pulled off two impressive wins over CS Don Bosco (2-1) and DC Motema Pembe (1-0) and AS Maniema Union, equivalent to 9 points.
In this classico, in terms of goals and statistics, Mazembe have been more than dominant with several wins, but the Dauphins have had their chances to upset the Lush Crows. The last time the Dauphins noirs beat the Englebert supporters in Kinshasa was on December 11th, 2022, 2-1 thanks to goals from Merveille Kikasa (39th) and Eric Kabwe (56th). However, Rabbi Etienne Mayombo (29th), who had scored the first goal of the match, had just enough time to save the honor of the black and white from Lubumbashi.