Audio By Carbonatix
TP Mazembe of DR Congo defeated Heartland of Nigeria 1-0 in Lubumbashi on Saturday to win their third Champions League trophy.
The home side clinched their third continental title on away goals after losing the first leg 2-1 last week.
Heartland held out for 73 minutes before Cameroonian midfielder Narcisse Ekanga scored to bring the trophy back to copper-rich southern Congo.
Apart from the prize money of US$1.5m, Mazembe qualify for the end-of-year Fifa Club World Cup in the UAE with Spanish giants Barcelona among possible opponents.
Heartland seemed to be grinding out the draw that they needed, but wave after wave of attack finally resulted in the Mazembe goal.
As expected, Mazembe attacked from the start, and the first real chance came to Heartland, but striker Emeka Nwanna shot wide from inside the box on 14 minutes.
The hosts almost took the lead in first-half stoppage time, but a glancing header from Dioko Kaluyituka was pushed onto the post by Heartland goalkeeper Augustin Brown.
Time seemed to be running out for Mazembe, but the goal finally came through Ekanga, who finished off a scrappy move by heading in from close range.
Mazembe then pressed forward for a second, and there was no way back for the Nigerians.
Heartland ended the game with ten men, with striker Emeka Nwanna send off for a lunge at an opponent on 90 minutes.
"Hard work is what was needed in this team, this is what is really lacking in this city of Lubumbashi," said Mazembe's French coach Diego Garzitto.
"If you work hard there will be a result, you can't be sitting down saying things will come from God."
The game was watched by President Joseph Kabila, and the victory is the culmination of a rebuilding process financed by club president and governor of mineral-rich Katanga Province Moise Katumbi.
Katumbi put in US$5m to win the US$1.5m prize-money, but realising his dream makes it worth it, as Mazembe can now look forward to the Club World Cup in December.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Rev Prof Amevenku elected 15th EPCG Moderator, pledges servant leadership
5 minutes -
Military leaders urged to prepare for emerging security threats
10 minutes -
Ghana to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity – Mahama
16 minutes -
Ghana to hold referendum on proposed constitutional amendments in 2027 – Mahama
23 minutes -
Social clubs must become engines of national development – Ace Ankomah
29 minutes -
GTA shuts down four accommodation facilities in Central Region
35 minutes -
Sustained peace will restore Bawku to its former glory – Mahama
41 minutes -
15% of maternal mortality deaths in Kumasi are ‘imported’- Health Director
48 minutes -
Oil rises as US-Iran peace talks stall, Hormuz shipping slows
56 minutes -
A $50m hostage ransom funded al Qaeda’s Mali offensive, UN says
1 hour -
Zambia’s Hichilema leads presidential vote count
1 hour -
If Meta loses this trial, Instagram and Facebook could change forever
1 hour -
Ferrari’s first ever electric car sold for record $40m at auction
2 hours -
Singapore police investigate assault on elderly man who patted child’s head
2 hours -
US judge clears way for Trump to end Somalis’ deportation protections
2 hours