Mazembe look to take major stride toward the quarterfinals

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Mar 07, 2019. 09:00

TP Mazembe will look to make a major stride toward the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League when they face Ismaily in a Group C clash at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Friday, 8 March 2019, kick-off at 18h00 CAT.

The DR Congo giants come into the game placed second on the log with seven points from four matches. Their last outing in the competition was a goalless stalemate away to Tunisia’s Club Africain on February 12.

The Egyptian side have endured a roller-coaster ride in the Champions League thus far, being ejected and then reinstated by CAF, before playing catch-up games against Algeria’s CS Constantine in the last two weeks.

‘El Daraweesh’ held their fellow North Africans 1-1 in Alexandria on February 23, before succumbing 3-2 in Constantine this past weekend. The results left them at the bottom of the log with just one point, and on the verge of elimination.

The Ravens defeated Ismaily 2-0 when the teams met in Lubumbashi on Matchday 1 back in January, with goals from Chico Ushindi and Kevin Mondeko.

A repeat of that result would likely secure a quarterfinal berth for Mazembe or at least put them within touching distance of it – depending on the result of the other Group C game, which will be played simultaneously in Algeria and see Constantine host Club Africain.

Senegalese referee Maguette N’Diaye will take charge of the fixture in Alexandria, with the game set to be played behind closed doors as part of CAF’s punitive measures against Ismaily.