CAF Champions League: TP Mazembe need a response in Lubumbashi

The time has come for TP Mazembe of the DRC to hit back in the CAF Champions League. The Congolese club host Tanzania's Young Africans on Saturday (13:00 GMT) in the third round of group games. It is a huge match for the Ravens, who are looking to get their campaign back on track after two sluggish outings.

No more dropped points at home

TP Mazembe have made a difficult start to the group stage, already dropping 5 points in the first two rounds, including 2 at home to Mouloudia Club d'Alger, who held them to a draw in Lubumbashi in the opener (0-0), before they went down to Al Hilal (2-1) in the following round. The Ravens can therefore no longer afford to drop points at home if they are to keep hoping for a place in the quarter-finals.

A good mindset is needed to go and win, said the team's coach, Lamine Ndiaye. "We will need the right mindset going into this game. We have to fight in front of our fans to hope to make the difference. It is an important match; we have 4 games left in all and if we win at least 3 of them, we go through to the next round. We can no longer afford to drop points at home, " the Senegalese coach said at his pre-match press conference.

Clash of the strugglers

This fixture pits the two poorly placed sides in Group A against each other: TP Mazembe, third, on one side and Young Africans, bottom, on the other. While the Congolese club have managed only one point from two outings, Young Africans have yet to pick up anything. They lost their first two matches, to Al Hilal (0-2) at home and to MC Alger (2-0) in Algiers.

A good chance for the Ravens to get back on track. "We are in almost the same situation as our opponents, who have also had a difficult start, but we are playing at home and we have to be clinical in both boxes. We are counting enormously on our fans to push the players to raise their game, " said Lamine Ndiaye.

A determined group

Almost everything will be decided over this double-header against Young Africans, which should give a clearer picture of the rest of the competition. And Saturday's match is the one that will restore confidence at TP Mazembe, who want to go out and win despite having a young squad. "We have a young squad. We are aware of our situation and determined to play this game well. We are a collective and we play well together. On Saturday, we are going to play to win and try to get back in the race. We have goals and everything hinges on this match. We have to win to restore confidence and approach the situation the right way, " said the club's Malian goalkeeper, Ibrahim Mounkoro.

For this important match, TP Mazembe will be without Gloire Mujaya and Madou Zon, who are both ill. To replace them, Lamine Ndiaye has called up Othniel Mawawu and Abdallah Rajabou.