TP Mazembe was declared league champions by the Democratic Republic of Congo’s football federation after the league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement by the Congolese Association Football Federation (FECOFA), the decision was reached following a meeting on Wednesday.
This means TP Mazembe, who topped the Vodacom Ligue 1 at the time the season was suspended, has now won the domestic league for an 18th time. A post on the club’s website celebrating their title confirmed the federation’s decision.
FECOFA said that TP Mazembe and runners-up AS Vita Club will represent the nation in next season’s CAF Champions League while third-placed Maniema Union will play in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Meanwhile, AS Nyuki and OC Bukavu Dava, who finished 15th and 16th respectively, have been relegated to Division Two. JSK and Etoile Jaune have been promoted through two of the regional leagues.
The DR Congo is one of seven African countries so far to have cancelled their domestic football seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
