DR Congo giants, TP Mazembe, drubbed MO Bejaia of Algeria 4-1 in 2016 CAF Confederations Cup final second leg to win the title 5-2 on aggregate at Stade Mazembe, Lubumbashi on Sunday.
A double from Zambian skipper, Raiford Kalaba, and a goal each from Mervail Bope and Jonathan Bolingi delivered the elusive title the “Ravens” missed by a whisker in 2013.
Mazembe, who carried an important away goal from the first leg, which ended 1-1 at Stade Mustapha Tchaker El Bouleida, Blida, last weekend, needed a barren draw or a simple win to secure the maiden championship, however, they were leaving nothing to chance.
The Coach Hubert Velud’s charges dominated the game and took a deserved lead with just seven minutes through Mervail Bope’s close drill in on the far left corner from Solomon Asante’s initial cross from the right.
Kalaba on six goals in the competition and chasing the golden boot fired past MO Bejaia’s keeper, Chamseddine Rahmani, for his seventh in the 43rd minute, to break away from Esperanca’s Arsenio Sebastio Cabungula, who also had the same number of goals.
He grabbed the brace in the 63rd minute to open a three-goal cushion between them and the Algerians with less than 30 minutes to play, and assure himself the sharpshooter’s award.
Mohammed Athmani buried a splitting pass for a 3-1 score in the 76th minute, but Bolingi would restore the lead a minute later, to seal the game.
Mazembe will face Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the CAF Super Cup next season.
Football TP Mazembe win CAF CC title
