Linafoot: Maniema Union withdraws from play-offs (Official)

AS Maniema Union officially announced on Thursday, April 17, its withdrawal from the play-off phase of the Congolese Ligue 1. The reason: the decision by Linafoot to limit matches to Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, a measure deemed profoundly “unfair” by the Kindu club.

In a firm statement, the club's management expressed its “strong indignation” at this centralization of competition venues, which it considers a disadvantage on sporting, logistical, and mental levels.

“Forcing our team to play away from home deprives us of a crucial advantage and distorts competitive balance,” reads the statement relayed by 7sur7.

“A blow to the integrity of the competition!”

The club goes further by denouncing “hostile” conditions for its players, highlighting that this setup exacerbates inequality between teams. It also mentions “a blow to the integrity of the competition.”

It should be noted that despite this protest, Linafoot maintains that the decisive phase of the championship will begin on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. However, the withdrawal of Maniema Union could disrupt an already shaky schedule, plagued by organizational delays, persistent insecurity in the East of the country, and perennial transport issues.

Other clubs, such as Sa Majesté Sanga Balende (Mbujimayi) and Tanganyika FC (Kalemie), have also slammed the League's decision, calling it “biased and discriminatory.”

So far, Linafoot has not officially responded to this wave of protests…

Amine Jomni |

Editorfr

African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.