Saint Eloi Lupopo Coach Explains Why They Lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Champions League
- Saint Eloi Lupopo's stand-in coach, Yassine Salmi, has explained why his team lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria this weekend
- The Congolese side was without their first tea coach, Guy Bukasa, and star player Dieumerci Amale Mukoko
- Salmi's explanation about their loss and Bukasa's absence sparked different reactions from PSL fans online
Saint-Eloi Lupopo assistant coach Yassine Salmi insisted that their 3-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League group stage opener had nothing to do with the absence of head coach Guy Bukasa or star player Dieumerci Amale Mukoko.
Source: Twitter
Mamelodi Sundowns’ summer signing from the Portuguese league, Nuno Santos, scored twice, while Marcelo Allende added another, with Ramos Kashala netting Lupopo’s only strike at Loftus Versfeld.
The Brazilians and Lupopo find themselves in the most exciting group of the competition this season, with Al Hilal and MC Alger also in the group.
Rulani Mokwena’s MC Alger side suffered a 2-1 loss to Al Hilal on Friday, November 21, 2025, highlighting the tough competition in the group.
Salmi explains why Lupopo lost to Sundowns
Saint-Eloi Lupopo assistant coach Yassine Salmi reflected on their defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League opener, noting that while his team performed well in the first half, they lost focus and were inefficient in front of goal. Sundowns, he said, were more concentrated and clinical, which allowed them to score twice.
Salmi downplayed the influence of individual players, including Dieumerci Mukoko, who became popular in SA after his display against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium, stressing that victories and losses are collective. He emphasised that the key issue was maintaining focus and converting chances, rather than blaming the absence of specific players or making tactical decisions.
He added that the team’s second-half inefficiency ultimately cost them the match and that they will work on improving their finishing in future games.
Source: Twitter
Salmi expressed confidence in Lupopo’s strength at home and looked forward to the upcoming fixtures in Lubumbashi. For their next CAF Champions League outing, Lupopo will host Hilal, while Mamelodi Sundowns will face their former coach, Mokwena, and his MC Alger boys.
Here is what fans are saying about Salmi's reaction to Lupopo's loss on social media.
Jupa Tsholo
"Let him even call the president 🤷 sundowns is still gonna moer them nje 👆👆👆."
Siyabonga Brandon Khumalo
"CAF is a joke. Pirates had a strong case there concerning that coach. Now they taking that suspension seriously."
EL Espolon
"CAF is a joke; this club should have been penalised for allowing Bukasa to coach against Pirates."
Onkabetse Given
"There's no way Lupopo can defeat Mamelodi Sundowns; this is not Orlando Pirates that gave them the chance to beat them, even with their coach, they would still lose woefully."
Siyabonga Brandon
CAF should have banned these people from the competition now; they are allowing the assistant who is qualified to be at the dugout in CAF games to take the centre stage. Something is fishy."
Cardoso on Sundowns' dream of winning CAFCL
Briefly News also reported that Miguel Cardoso shared his thoughts on Mamelodi Sundowns' obsession tag to winning the CAF Champions League.
The Portuguese coach made the comments ahead of the Brazilians' clash with Lupopo.
Source: Briefly News
