Bolingi goal lifts Mazembe to slim victory

Lubumbashi TP Mazembe's forward Thomas Ulimwengu (left) and his teammate Solomon Asante celebrate after scoring a goal in a past match. Star-studded Mazembe beat African rookies Stade Gabesien 1-0 in a CAF Confederation Cup play-off in Lubumbashi on Sunday. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Striker Jonathan Bolingi scored after a corner to give the DRC club a narrow advantage over their Tunisian opponents.
  • Mazembe boast an experienced multi-national squad with Bolingi usually one of the few Congolese starters in a line-up.

JOHANNESBURG

Star-studded TP Mazembe needed 94 minutes to break the resistance of African rookies Stade Gabesien and win a CAF Confederation Cup play-off 1-0 in Lubumbashi Sunday.

Striker Jonathan Bolingi scored after a corner in the southern mining city to give the Democratic Republic of Congo club a narrower-than-expected advantage over their Tunisian opponents.

The match-winner is the 21-year-old son of Mpangi Merikani, the former DR Congo goalkeeper who played for leading Kinshasa side Daring Club Motema Pembe.

FEW CONGOLESE STARTERS

Mazembe boast an experienced multi-national squad with Bolingi usually one of the few Congolese starters in a line-up including Ghanaians, Ivorians, Malians, Tanzanians and Zambians.

The 'Ravens' won the CAF Champions League a fifth time last year, but their title defence lasted only two rounds before being eliminated by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

Defeat meant demotion of the second-tier Confederation Cup with seven other Champions League last-16 losers and if TP defeat Gabesien over two legs they will go into the May 24 group draw.

Competing in a CAF competition for the first time, Stade reached the play-offs through an unbeaten six-match run, but none of their team are Tunisian national team first choices.