Club Africain have booked their place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, where they will face one of the competition’s most experienced sides, TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Tunisian club progressed after drawing 2-2 away to Mali’s Djoliba on Saturday, completing a 3-2 aggregate victory after their 1-0 win in the first leg at Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades.
Coach Maher Kanzari’s side managed to protect their advantage despite a demanding second leg in Mali, ensuring they advanced to the next stage of the continental competition.
The tie remained competitive throughout, with Club Africain scoring twice through Sadok Guedida and Thaddeus Nkang. Djoliba also found the net twice on home territory but could not overturn the deficit from the opening match.
Club Africain’s ability to preserve their one-goal advantage across the two legs proved decisive as they secured progression with a narrow aggregate margin.
The qualification also provided an opportunity for some of the club’s younger players to gain continental experience.
Among them was Cameroonian youngster Ryan Titogo, who was introduced in the second half and produced an encouraging performance. His display attracted praise from some Club Africain supporters and added another positive element to an otherwise difficult night for the Tunisian side.
Mazembe provide a tougher challenge
Club Africain’s reward for overcoming Djoliba is a meeting with TP Mazembe, who also progressed from the first preliminary round on Saturday.
The Congolese giants defeated Ghanaian club Medeama 3-1 in their second-leg encounter. Having already won the first meeting 1-0, Mazembe completed a 4-1 aggregate victory to advance comfortably.
The result confirmed the identity of Club Africain’s next opponents and sets up a considerably more difficult assignment for Kanzari’s team.
Mazembe’s record and experience in African competition make them a formidable opponent, particularly at a stage of the Champions League where clubs are competing for progression towards the group phase.
For Club Africain, the challenge will be to build on the resilience they demonstrated against Djoliba while improving their overall level of performance.
Their first-round qualification came by a single-goal margin over the two matches, leaving little room for error against an opponent with greater experience of high-pressure continental fixtures.
Club Africain face test of continental credentials
The tie against Mazembe represents a significant test for Club Africain and their ambitions in this season’s Champions League.
The Tunisian side have already shown they can negotiate a difficult away match after entering the Djoliba second leg with a one-goal advantage and managing to leave Mali with a draw.
However, Mazembe will present a different level of challenge.
The Congolese club are accustomed to competing deep into African competitions and possess substantial continental experience. That background could prove particularly important in a two-legged tie where small mistakes can have major consequences.
Club Africain will therefore need greater concentration and consistency if they are to continue their journey towards the group stage.
Kanzari’s team can take confidence from their success against Djoliba, particularly their ability to maintain their aggregate lead despite conceding twice in the second leg.
Guedida and Nkang provided the goals needed to secure that progress, while the contribution of young players such as Titogo offers the squad additional options as the competition becomes more demanding.
The Club Africain-Mazembe meeting will now become the next major chapter in the Tunisian club’s continental campaign.
After successfully navigating their first obstacle, the Bab Jedid side must raise their performance against a team with a long-standing reputation in African football.
Their objective remains clear: advance through another preliminary round and move one step closer to the Champions League group stage.
But against Mazembe, the margin for mistakes will be considerably smaller.
