Having won the the continent’s most coveted prize in club football a majestic five times, TP Mazembe now aim to conquer Africa in the newly formed premier club competition, the African Football League.
The DR Congo giants face Tunisian heavyweights Esperance Sportive des Tunis in a first Quarter-final clash this evening at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
With a staggering nine champions league titles between them, the battle Mazembe (5) and Esperance (4) promises to be mouthwatering.
Mazembe have not won the a continental crown since 2017 and the formation of this new competition has relighted their desire to return to the cusp of African football under the guidance of Senegalese coach Lamine N’Diaye.
After qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League as they saw off Malawian side Nyasa Big Bullets 5-0 on aggregate and unbeaten in the domestic league, Mazembe will go into this evening’s contest against the Tunisians with a great oodles of confidence.
“We have a new coach, and we have worked a lot in training to make sure we are ready,” Mazembe captain Kevin Mondeko Zatu declared in the pre-match press conference.
Mazembe have previously against Tunisian opposition but Mondeko assured supporters that the Ravens were psychologically ready to face Esperance.
“The problem was just in our minds, and we worked to try to improve it. Last season was bad, but now our mentality is new,” explained Mondeko.
Mazembe will have to play their first leg home encounter in Tanzania after Congolese government blocked CAF officials assigned to oversee the match access into the country.
