Psychological warfare off the pitch.. Anger dominates Mazembe in Tunisia with an expected escalation to CAF

Mazembe accuses Tunisia of disturbing its delegation and threatens an urgent CAF complaint

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Psychological warfare off the pitch.. Anger dominates Mazembe in Tunisia with an expected escalation to CAF

25.10.26 13:00 CAF Champions League

Club Africain

TP Mazembe

TP Mazembe have threatened to file a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football CAF after accusing Club Africain supporters of deliberately disturbing their players at a hotel in Tunisia ahead of Sunday's Champions League clash.

The five time African champions issued a statement on Wednesday 21 October expressing concern over an alleged incident outside the hotel accommodating their delegation in Tunis.

According to Mazembe, a group of Club Africain supporters gathered near the Royal ASBU Hotel on Tuesday evening and set off fireworks and firecrackers for more than ten minutes.

The Congolese club believes the disturbance was intended to prevent its players from resting properly before the decisive second leg of the 2026 /27 CAF Champions League second preliminary round.

The allegations have emerged just days before the two teams meet again, following a 1-1 draw in Lubumbashi on 17 October.

TP Mazembe accuse Club Africain supporters of disrupting players' sleep

In a statement published on its official social media accounts, Mazembe described the alleged disturbance as unacceptable conduct ahead of an important continental fixture.

According to Tunisian radio station Mosaïque FM, the incident occurred at approximately 22 on Tuesday 20 October.

Mazembe claimed that several Club Africain supporters assembled outside the hotel and repeatedly set off firecrackers and fireworks.

The noise reportedly continued for around ten minutes disrupting the atmosphere surrounding the delegation's accommodation.

The club which arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday morning, believes the incident was a deliberate attempt to interfere with its preparations.

Mazembe accompanied its statement with video footage and indicated that it could pursue the matter through African football's governing body.

"TP Mazembe reserves the right to refer the matter to CAF" the club stated.

However, the Congolese side has not publicly confirmed that a formal complaint has already been submitted.

The identity of those responsible and their alleged intentions have not been independently established.

🚨 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: TP Mazembe to file a complaint with CAF. TP Mazembe claim that Club Africain supporters disturbed their rest at their hotel in Tunis around midnight while the team was sleeping. According to the club, firecrackers and fireworks were set off outside the hotel, causing chaos and preventing the players and staff from sleeping. TP Mazembe are set to lodge a formal complaint with CAF. #TotalEnergiesCAFCL #CAFCLwithMicky #AfricanFootball
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) October 21, 2026

Could CAF take action against Club Africain?

Mazembe considers the reported events a possible breach of the standards governing CAF Champions League matches.

The club's concerns primarily involve the protection of visiting delegations and the conditions required for teams to prepare without unnecessary disruption.

If Mazembe submits a formal complaint, CAF could examine the available evidence and determine whether further action is warranted under its regulations.

However, a complaint would not automatically establish responsibility or result in sanctions against Club Africain.

Any disciplinary consequences would depend on the circumstances, the applicable regulations and CAF's assessment of the evidence.

No official disciplinary decision concerning the hotel allegations has been announced.

Le TP Mazembe hausse le ton à quelques jours de sa rencontre avec le Club Africain. L’équipe de Lubumbashi envisage de saisir la Confédération africaine de football (CAF) après des incidents survenus dans la soirée du mardi 20 octobre, aux abords de l’hôtel où loge sa délégation à Tunis. https://t.co/cFAdDqSnLI
— Ouragan (@OuraganCd) October 21, 2026

Club Africain and Mazembe face decisive Champions League showdown

The controversy comes at a crucial moment in both clubs' continental campaigns.

Mazembe and Club Africain drew 1-1 in the first leg at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Saturday 17 October.

The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture in Tunisia.

As Foot Africa highlighted in its preview of the second preliminary round, the encounter is one of the standout clashes of this season's qualifying campaign.

Both clubs are seeking a return to the group stage, with Mazembe aiming to compete for a sixth continental crown and Club Africain hoping to re establish themselves among Africa's leading sides.

The fixture also revives memories of their meetings in 2019 when Mazembe inflicted an 8-0 defeat on the Tunisian club in Lubumbashi before a goalless draw in the return encounter.

The current tie has proved considerably closer, with neither team holding an advantage after the opening 90 minutes.

🤯 NUIT AGITÉE POUR MAZEMBE ! Les supporters du Club Africain ont fait exploser des feux d’artifice devant l’hôtel du TP Mazembe pendant plus de 10 minutes, mardi soir, pour perturber le repos des Congolais. Le club congolais se réserve le droit de saisir la CAF. ________________________________ 🤯 FANS TURN UP THE HEAT! Club Africain fans set off fireworks outside TP Mazembe’s hotel for over 10 minutes on Tuesday night, in an apparent attempt to disrupt the Congolese side’s rest. ⚖️ TP Mazembe reserves the right to file a complaint with CAF over the incident. FB/ tpmazembe1 🎥 #SKWAD
— SKWAD (@SKWAD_ma) October 21, 2026

A Champions League tie already surrounded by controversy

The hotel allegations follow another disputed incident during the first leg in DR Congo.

As Foot Africa previously reported, Club Africain representatives reportedly discovered suspicious objects in the tunnel leading to the pitch before Saturday's encounter.

The objects prompted allegations involving possible occult practices, with the match commissioner reportedly informed.

However, no evidence has established that the objects were connected to such practices or belonged to Mazembe representatives.

The two incidents remain separate matters, and neither establishes wrongdoing by the opposing club.

Their emergence nevertheless adds tension to an already significant Champions League confrontation.

[Media Statement] EFF MPUMALANGA STATEMENT ON LODGING AN URGENT COMPLAINT WITH THE IEC OVER ALLEGED ABUSE OF STATE RESOURCES AT SAMORA MACHEL COMMEMORATION. WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2026 https://t.co/9rXscoTg4P
— @Mpumalanga _EFF (@MpumalangaEff) October 21, 2026

When is Club Africain vs TP Mazembe?

Club Africain will host Mazembe at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès on Sunday 25 October.

The match will determine which team advances to the Champions League group stage.

According to CAF's official competition update, the 16 winners of the second preliminary round ties will qualify for the group stage, scheduled to begin in late November.

Following the 1-1 first leg draw, both teams still have a realistic opportunity to progress.

As Foot Africa outlined in its qualifying round schedule, Mazembe and Club Africain are among several major African clubs fighting for the remaining group stage places.

For now, attention will remain on whether Mazembe follows through with its threatened complaint and whether CAF decides to examine the alleged disturbance.

Meanwhile, both teams must prepare for a decisive encounter in Radès, where the outcome on the pitch will settle their immediate Champions League ambitions.

Mazembe Furious As Fireworks Disrupt Team’s Sleep In Tunisia TP Mazembe are considering taking action against CAF after accusing Club Africain supporters of disrupting their players’ sleep ahead of an important match. The Congolese giants claim fireworks and firecrackers were set off outside their hotel in Tunis, disturbing the squad and staff as they prepared for their African assignment. In a statement published on social media, Mazembe said the incident happened on Tuesday, October 20, at around 10 pm. According to the club, the fireworks and firecrackers were heard outside the hotel for more than 10 minutes, disrupting the peace of the Congolese delegation ahead of the crucial fixture. “Supporters of Club Africain took to the stage in the middle of the night in an attempt to disturb the sleep of TP Mazembe players in Tunis,” the club said. Mazembe described the incident as a serious breach of competition regulations and indicated that it could lodge a formal complaint with CAF. The incident came ahead of Sunday’s crucial game that will decide who advances to the group stages between the two sides. Last Saturday’s encounter between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw in Lubumbashi, giving the Tunisian side an advantage going into the second leg at home. It remains to be seen whether CAF will act on the complaint, but Mazembe have made it clear that they are not prepared to ignore what they believe was a deliberate attempt to unsettle their players before the match.
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) October 21, 2026

This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create review content, see our Editorial Policy .

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.