The Congolese giants defeated USM Alger in Sunday’s final second leg to claim their fifth Caf Champions League title
It had been five long years since a side from sub-Saharan Africa had won the Caf Champions League, but TP Mazembe single-handedly halted North Africa’s dominance when they defeated USM Alger 2-0 on Sunday to win the final 4-1 on aggregate.
Having won away in Algeria last weekend, Mazembe were the overwhelming favourites heading into Sunday’s final in Lubumbashi.
However, the loss of star man Rainford Kalaba through suspension, an injury suffered by left-back Jean Kasusula, and the late goal scored by USMA in the first leg each raised doubts—however slight—that Mazembe would cruise to the title in front of their own fans.
There was also the fact that Les Corbeaux were coming off the back of four years of Caf Champions League disappointment.
Since winning the title in 2010, Mazembe have twice fallen to North African opponents. Last year, they exited in the semi-finals on away goals after drawing 4-4 with eventual winners ES Setif, in 2012 they fell to Tunisian heavyweights Esperance at the same stage.
Since Mazembe’s last triumph—and even before—North African sides have been a class above their counterparts from the rest of the continent.
The most damning statistic is that even though only 12 of the 57 teams that entered the competition were from North Africa, the region contributed seven of the eight sides in the tournament’s group stage…with Mazembe the only exception.
North African sides had won every final since 2010, beating sides from sub-Saharan Africa on two occasions, and twice following derbies between sides from the top of the continent.
Of the 10 finalists in the last five years, only three have been from Central Africa or the South.
Indeed, there has only once been a final between two sides from sub-Saharan Africa (Mazembe’s victory over Nigerian side Heartland in 2009) since 1998, when Cote d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas beat Zimbabwean side Dynamos FC.
With great names like Hafia, Canon Yaounde and Asante Kotoko fading, and with South Africa’s giants—for all their vaunted grandeur—having only ever won one Champions League title, Mazembe are sub-Saharan Africa’s only true, credible contenders for the crown.
USM Alger | Unable to extend North Africa's Caf Champions League dominance
They are a worthy beacon for sub-Saharan Africa against the northern hegemony, and will be credible representatives for Africa at the Club World Cup in Japan later this year.
This they proved with a series of excellent displays during 2015’s Champions League.
For so long imperious at home, their Lubumbashi stadium became a furious fortress of defiance for almost any visiting North African side, while their away form improved after a series of disappointments on the road in recent campaigns.
Doubts remain over Patrice Carteron, but with a squad containing the likes of Kalaba, Mbwana Samatta, Roger Assale, Thomas Ulimwengu, Solomon Asante and Gladson Awako, there has been enough sparkle and firepower to overcome any perceived conservatism or naivety on the part of the coach.
Carteron | Are Mazembe succeeding in spite of their coach?
Africa’s track record in the undervalued showpiece between continental champions has been mottled, but is steadily improving.
Only twice—in 2010 (Mazembe) and 2013 (Raja Casablanca)—have the continent’s sides reached the final of the competition, and on both occasions they were overcome fairly comfortably by the reigning European champions (Inter Milan and Bayern Munich respectively).
The great Al-Ahly team of the last decade—and one of the finest-ever African sides—managed to pick up bronze in 2006 and fourth place in 2012, but we never saw that dream final between a European powerhouse and Africa’s Club of the Century.
While Mazembe will fancy their chances against either Auckland City or the Japanese hosts in the quarter-finals, the real test for Patrice Carteron’s side will be the likely semi-final against River Plate.
It will be an engrossing clash of styles and cultures, and a riveting test for Les Corbeaux.
It will also be an intriguing gauge of Africa’s football today—at least as far as the continent’s top club sides are concerned.
The hope for next year’s Champions League is a greater representation of the continent’s sides in the group stage of the tournament.
Orlando Pirates’ run in the Caf Confederation Cup this year provides reason for optimism (they face Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel in a two-legged final at the end of the month), but only when fallen giants from Ghana, Nigeria and Francophone West Africa improve their organisation and their resources, can the North’s hegemony truly be cracked.
Until then, it’s down to Mazembe to fly the flag for sub-Saharan Africa and, in the Club World Cup, for the continent’s football as a whole.
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