JOHANNESBURG: The grieving footballers of Daring Club Motema Pembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo were eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup at the weekend.
Motema Pembe lost 2-0 away to Lydia Ludic Academic of Burundi in Bujumbura to go out of the second-tier African club championship 2-1 on aggregate after winning the first leg at home by a solitary goal last month.
The return game was delayed one week because three of the Motema Pembe squad — goalkeeper Guelord Dibulana, midfielder Hugues Muyenge and striker Mwanza Lemba — were killed in a Kinshasa road accident.
Another Motema Pembe player was seriously injured when their car was struck by a truck as the players returned from a pre-Easter church service in the Congolese capital.
Academic took the lead after 11 minutes at the Prince Louis Rwagasore stadium through Claude Ndarusanze and Gael Nduhayiridavyi struck the tie-clinching second goal on 57 minutes.
Former African Champions League title-holders ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast will be the next opponents for the Burundians with the first leg of the last-16 tie in Abidjan this weekend.
Grieving Congolese suffer CAF Cup defeat
