TP Mazembe and Sanga Balende Start DRC Championship Playoffs in Style
The Congolese football playoffs kicked off with a bang as TP Mazembe and Sanga Balende both registered crucial opening victories to set the tone in the race for national supremacy.
The headline clash of the day saw Lubumbashi giants TP Mazembe dismantle AS Vita Club with a commanding 4-1 win at the Kamalondo Stadium. The Ravens, coached by Frenchman Patrice Carteron, delivered a dominant display against their Kinshasa rivals, with Tanzanian international Mbwana Aly Samatta stealing the spotlight.
Samatta netted a superb hat-trick, showcasing the clinical edge that has made him one of the most feared forwards on the continent. Zambian midfielder Rainford Kalaba also got on the scoresheet, adding to Mazembe’s attacking firepower and securing a resounding win that immediately marks them out as title favourites.
AS Vita Club, despite their reputation and quality, were left stunned by the intensity and sharpness of Mazembe, who looked determined to reclaim domestic glory.
In the other fixture of the day, Sanga Balende secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Don Bosco. The match, less explosive than the Mazembe-Vita showdown, was decided by a lone strike from Kayembe Mukendi, giving Sanga Balende a vital three points to start their playoff campaign.
With both Mazembe and Sanga Balende taking early control at the top of the standings, attention now turns to the next round of matches scheduled for April 27. For TP Mazembe, the emphatic win sends a strong message to the rest of the competition: the Ravens are flying high and mean business.
The playoffs promise to deliver more drama and quality as the top Congolese sides battle for national honours and a place in next season’s continental competitions.
