TP Mazembe, a football club based in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has announced that it will host a pre-season football tournament from September 22 to October 3, 2026. The tournament, which will take place at the TP Mazembe stadium in Lubumbashi, will feature eight clubs from the Ligue nationale de football (Linafoot), the country's top football league. According to the club's website, the tournament will allow the technical staff to continue their work and evaluate players in a match situation.
The tournament is a welcome initiative by TP Mazembe, which is engaged in the CAF Champions League and will face Club Africain of Tunisia in the second round. The club has refused to succumb to the forced unemployment that all Congolese clubs are subjected to, due to the delayed start of the national championship. The mini-tournament will feature eight matches, with two matches per day, and will be played over eight days. The first match is scheduled to start at 13h00 local time, and the second match at 15h00.
The eight participating clubs have been divided into two groups of four teams each. Group A consists of TP Mazembe, Saint Luc de Kananga, Blessing FC, and FC Lubumbashi Sport. Group B comprises FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, CS Don Bosco, AC Manga Sport, and CS Manika de Kalemie. The tournament schedule has been announced, with the first matches taking place on September 22.
On the first day of the tournament, Lubumbashi Sport will face Blessing FC at 13h00, and TP Mazembe will play against AS Saint Luc at 15h00. The following days will feature more matches, with the semi-finals scheduled for October 1 and the classification match and final on October 3.
The tournament will provide an opportunity for the participating clubs to prepare for the upcoming season and for TP Mazembe to fine-tune its team ahead of the CAF Champions League. The club's technical staff will be able to assess the players' performance in a competitive environment.
The initiative by TP Mazembe has been welcomed by football fans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who are eager to see their teams in action. The tournament will be a significant event in the country's football calendar, and it is expected to attract a large audience.
The Congolese football season has been delayed, and the tournament will help to fill the gap. TP Mazembe's efforts to organize a pre-season tournament have been praised, and it is hoped that other clubs will follow suit.
Key points
- TP Mazembe to host a pre-season football tournament in Lubumbashi from September 22 to October 3, 2026.
- The tournament will feature eight clubs from the Ligue nationale de football (Linafoot).
- The tournament will help TP Mazembe prepare for the CAF Champions League.
