Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe bowed out of the CAF Champions League with a match to spare after they lost 2-0 to CR Belouizdad of Algeria in a Group B of the CAF Champions League match on Saturday.
TP Mazembe coach Mihayo Kazembe went into the match in Algiers knowing to well that his side needed a victory to have any realistic chance of advancing to the quarter finals.
While the North Africans named a starting line up comprising of local players, Mihayo started with six Congolese, two Cameroonians and two Zambians; Kabaso Chongo and Tandi Mwape.
While TP Mazembe is bottom of the group and yet to win a group stage match this year, the central defensive partnership of Chongo and Mwape had only shipped in three goals prior to Saturday’s match.
With skipper Rainford Kalaba left on the bench, the Lubumbashi based side struggled in the final third.
The Algerian left it late as they scored two quick goals in the 84th and 86th minute to claim maximum points as they went to second on the log and on six points.
The defeat left TP Mazembe on 2 points is what is their worst record in the group stage.
The ravens have also only scored a goal in 5 matches.
Leaders Sundowns were held to a goalless draw by Sudanese side Al Hilal in Khartoum.
Zambia’s most capped player Kennedy Mweene watched from the stands for the Pretoria based side.
Sundowns and Al Hilal are on 10 and 4 points respectively.
Elsewhere Chipolopolo duo of midfielders Clatous Chota Chama and Rally Bwalya scored to steer Simba SC of Tanzania into the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon with a game to spare.
The Tanzanian giants have sailed through to the quarter-finals with a game to spare following a superb 4-1 win at home against AS Vita Club of DR Congo thanks to their 13 point haul.
