TP Mazembe have threatened to take a complaint to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after accusing Club Africain fans of setting off fireworks near their team hotel in Tunisia ahead of Sunday’s African Champions League qualifying match.
The Congolese club issued an official statement on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, claiming the incident was an attempt to disrupt their preparations for the second leg of the preliminary round.
According to Mazembe, a group of Club Africain supporters set off fireworks and firecrackers close to the hotel where their delegation was staying on Tuesday evening. The club said the incident began at about 22:00 local time and lasted approximately 10 minutes.
Mazembe published the statement on its official Facebook page alongside a video relating to the alleged incident.
The club expressed concern about the circumstances surrounding the incident, arguing that the noise was intended to disturb its players and prevent them from getting adequate rest before the important encounter.
Mazembe also suggested that the actions were an attempt to interfere with the team’s preparations, raising the possibility of referring the matter to CAF over what it considers a breach of the competition’s regulations.
The club’s warning comes just days before the two sides meet in a decisive encounter, with a place in the next round of the African Champions League at stake.
Mazembe’s delegation arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday morning to prepare for the return fixture against Club Africain, scheduled for Sunday.
The Congolese side will travel into the match knowing that the tie remains finely balanced after the two teams drew the first leg 1-1 in Lubumbashi last Saturday.
That result left neither side with a decisive advantage, meaning the return match in Tunisia will determine which team advances to the next stage of the competition.
With qualification still undecided, the encounter is expected to be an important test for both teams as they seek to progress in Africa’s premier club competition.
Mazembe’s complaint has added another issue to the build-up, with the Congolese club making clear its dissatisfaction with the incident near its hotel.
The club’s statement indicates that it is prepared to escalate the matter to CAF over the alleged disturbance and the conduct it believes could affect its team’s preparations.
However, the immediate sporting focus remains on Sunday’s match, where Mazembe and Club Africain will meet again following their draw in the first leg.
The outcome will settle the contest between the two sides, while Mazembe’s threat to approach CAF places the alleged incident firmly in the spotlight ahead of the return fixture.
