- The Ibagué side finished runners-up in a demanding Group B and will face Independiente del Valle in the Round of 16.
- With Sebastián Oliveros now in charge, the Colombian club strengthened its squad with a clear objective: to continue pursuing its dream of Gloria Eterna.
Deportes Tolima began their campaign in this edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores in the second qualifying round. Their first opponents were Deportivo Táchira, whom they eliminated on penalties after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate. They then came from behind in their series against O’Higgins, winning 2-1 overall to secure a place in the coveted group stage.
Their performances across the six matches were inconsistent, but their home form proved decisive. Tolima finished second behind group winners Coquimbo Unido with eight points, level with Nacional of Uruguay, whom they edged out on the head-to-head record. ‘El Vinotinto y Oro’ lost 3-1 in Montevideo but responded emphatically at the Manuel Murillo Toro, where a 3-0 victory ultimately secured their place in the knockout stage.
Sebastián Oliveros, the 38-year-old coach who arrived from Fortaleza FC, took charge of Deportes Tolima ahead of the dual challenge of the Colombian Clausura and the Round of 16 of the prestigious CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Deportes Tolima in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Results and Schedule
Second Stage
Deportivo Táchira 0-1 Deportes Tolima
Goal: Kelvin Florez (65')
Deportes Tolima 0 (3)-(0) 1 Deportivo Táchira
Goal: Luis González (90+4')
Deportes Tolima won 3-0 on penalties.
Third Stage
O’Higgins 1-0 Deportes Tolima
Goal: Francisco González (45+8')
Deportes Tolima 2-0 O’Higgins
Goals: Junior Hernández (38') and Juan Pablo Torres (87')
Group B
Matchday 1: Deportes Tolima 0-0 Universitario
Matchday 2: Nacional 3-1 Deportes Tolima
Goals: Maximiliano Gómez (46'), Sebastián Coates (64') and Nicolás López (87') / Brayan Rovira (80')
Matchday 3: Deportes Tolima 3-0 Coquimbo Unido
Goals: Sebastián Guzmán (59'), Luis Sandoval (66') and Jersson González (78')
Matchday 4: Deportes Tolima 3-0 Nacional
Goals: Luis Sandoval (45+7'), Jherson Mosquera (78') and Jersson González (89')
Matchday 5: Coquimbo Unido 3-0 Deportes Tolima
Goals: Manuel Fernández (27'), Cristian Zavala (45+4') and Nicolás Johansen (55')
Matchday 6: Universitario 0-0 Deportes Tolima
Deportes Tolima Head Coach in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Sebastián Oliveros
Lucas González managed Deportes Tolima during the group stage, but the Bogotá-born coach made a surprising departure for Atlético Nacional shortly after securing ‘El Pijao’s’ qualification for the Round of 16. Sebastián Oliveros succeeded him on June 30, and his debut could hardly have gone better: in front of their home supporters, the Ibagué side defeated Junior de Barranquilla 2-1.
Oliveros arrived from Colombian top-flight club Fortaleza, where he recorded 60 victories in 152 matches. He is a modern coach who prioritises possession and an attacking approach based on combinations and quick passing moves, usually within his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.
This will be the first international challenge of his coaching career and a major opportunity to prove that his team can overcome Independiente del Valle, one of the continent’s most formidable opponents.
Full Deportes Tolima Squad for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores
Goalkeepers: 1. Alvino Volpi - 12. Juan Covilla - 23. Gali Balanta - 70. Miguel Ortega.
Defenders: 2. Anderson Angulo - 3. Jan Angulo - 4. Daniel Pedrozo - 5. Juan Mera - 25. Nilder Zapata - 33. Jherson Mosquera - 34. Santiago Cabezas - 71. Yordan Osorio.
Midfielders: 6. Cristian Trujillo - 7. Jorge Cabezas - 8. Ever Valencia - 10. Luis Sánchez - 13. Erik Álvarez - 14. Homer Martínez - 16. Víctor Reyes - 18. Kelvin Florez - 32. Sebastián Guzmán - 80. Bryan Rovira.
Forwards: 9. Luis Sandoval - 11. Jader Valencia - 15. Sergio Aguayo - 17. Cristian Arrieta - 20. Junior Henrández - 21. Yimar Parra - 24. Adrián Parra - 28. Edwar López - 29. Neifer Sánchez - 30. Shean Barbosa - 31. Yoimar Moreno.
Deportes Tolima’s Key Player in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Neto Volpi
The 34-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper is a leader and key figure in a squad he joined three seasons ago, gradually establishing himself as first choice through consistent performances and hard work.
In his first official CONMEBOL Libertadores campaign, the Rio do Campo native — particularly strong in the air and in penalty shootouts — has backed up his impressive displays with outstanding numbers. He has kept six clean sheets in the ten matches Tolima have played in the current edition of the Gloria Eterna and was one of the standout performers on the final matchday, helping his side secure a goalless draw against Universitario in Peru.
Deportes Tolima’s Top Scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Luis Sandoval
‘Chino’ Sandoval is the focal point of Deportes Tolima’s attack. He scored twice during the group stage, netting the second goal in the 3-0 victory over Coquimbo Unido before opening the scoring in another 3-0 home win, this time against Nacional.
Since joining ‘El Glorioso’, he has recorded 10 goals and four assists in 27 appearances. Sandoval stands out for his pace and movement across the entire attacking line, offering a different profile from that of a traditional centre-forward. He frequently drops outside the penalty area and combines with his teammates to create space and open up opposing defences.
Deportes Tolima’s X-Factor in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Anderson Angulo
The experienced defender and Deportes Tolima captain is the commanding voice in Sebastián Oliveros’ side. Since joining from Bucaramanga at the beginning of 2020, he has established himself at the heart of the defence and become an undisputed member of the Colombian team’s core. Having already represented ‘El Pijao’ in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, he is now dreaming of extending the club’s run beyond the Round of 16 in his first CONMEBOL Libertadores campaign.
A product of Llaneros FC, the centre-back is a pillar of a defence defined by physical strength, technical quality, aerial solidity and efficiency in individual duels. In more than 170 appearances for Deportes Tolima, he has recorded six goals and two assists.
Deportes Tolima’s History in the CONMEBOL Libertadores
Deportes Tolima have qualified for the continent’s most prestigious club competition on nine occasions. Remarkably, ‘El Vinotinto y Oro’ produced their best campaign in their very first appearance, in 1982, when they reached the Semi-finals and came within touching distance of turning their dream into reality on their international debut.
With a squad that blends promising young talent with experienced figures, Tolima will begin their knockout-stage journey against formidable opposition. Independiente del Valle, one of South America’s leading talent-producing clubs, won the CONMEBOL Sudamericana in 2019 and 2022 before lifting the CONMEBOL Recopa in 2023.
