TP Mazemebe close in on Confed Cup semis

LUBUMBASHI – TP Mazembe can secure a Confederation Cup semi-finals place this weekend by beating Algerian visitors Entente Setif to ensure a top-two finish in Group B.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Saturday TP Mazembe (DRC) vs ES Setif (Alg) 3:30pmEtoile Sahel (Tun) vs CS Sfaxien (Tun) 8pmSunday CA Bizertin (Tun) vs FUS Rabat (Mor) 5pmSt Malien (Mal) vs St George (Eth) 6pmLUBUMBASHI – TP Mazembe can secure a Confederation Cup semi-finals place this weekend by beating Algerian visitors Entente Setif to ensure a top-two finish in Group B.The Democratic Republic of Congo side are heavily fancied after forcing a 1-1 draw at Setif last month."My immediate target is to win the Confederation Cup,” says France-born Mazembe coach Patrice Carteron.He moved to southern Congolese mining city Lubumbashi, where Mazembe are based, after taking Mali to third place at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.The former Sunderland defender is considered among the best young coaches on a continent where many of his compatriots have made a telling impact.Mazembe boast a multi-national squad with Ghanaians, Malians, Tanzanians and Zambians bolstering local stars like playmaker and captain Tresor Mputu.Zambian Rainford Kalaba snatched the late match-winner at home to closest challengers CA Bizertin of Tunisia two weeks ago.And Ghanaian Solomon Asante, Tanzanian Mbwana Samata and Malian Cheibane Traore scored in a 3-0 rout of Moroccans FUS Rabat.But Mazembe have been less successful away with the draw at Setif followed by a defeat at Bizertin, whose only Confederation of African Football title came 25 years ago.Mazembe have won the Champions League four times, the Caf Super Super twice and the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup once.Setting their sights on the 2013 Champions League, Mazembe lost a qualifier to South Africans Orlando Pirates and were demoted to the Confederation Cup.