Sanga Balende Eyes Group Stage Qualification in CAF Champions League
Sanga Balende of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has their eyes set on reaching the group stages of the CAF Champions League. To do so, they must first overcome El Hilal of Sudan in the round of 16 this Sunday.
Key Fixture:
The first leg of this crucial tie will take place at home in Kinshasa, where Sanga Balende is hoping to capitalize on their recent strong performances in the competition. Their form so far has been promising, and the club is keen to continue this momentum.
Call to Action:
To boost their chances, Sanga Balende’s executive secretary, Innocent Tshitende, has made an impassioned plea to the fans of Kinshasa and the wider DRC public to come out in full support of the team. Tshitende emphasized the national significance of the match, not only for Sanga Balende but for the entire country:
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“This match is of vital importance, not only for our team but also for the entire Congolese population. It will be necessary for the entire DRC public, particularly the participating clubs like us, Mazembe, VClub, and MK, to support their team. If there is shame, it will be for the whole country, not just Sanga Balende,” Tshitende said in an interview with Radio Okapi.
Road to the Round of 16:
Sanga Balende has already proven their mettle in the competition by eliminating two strong teams:
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In the 32nd final, they overcame Recreativo do Libolo of Angola (1-3, 2-0).
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In the 16th final, they defeated Coton Sport de Garoua of Cameroon (0-0, 2-0).
Now, they aim to continue this strong run against El Hilal and secure a spot in the coveted CAF Champions League group stages.
The Stakes:
The pressure is on, but with home support and a team full of confidence, Sanga Balende will look to use their current good form to propel them to the next stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
