Tout Puissant Mazembe Khartoum – Abed Algayom Ashmeag TP Mazembe has booked a place in the CAF Champions League group stage following a 1-1 draw at al-Merreikh of Sudan on Saturday. The championship was held in Omdurman in Sudan. The 2009 and 2010 Champions League winners went through with a 3-1 aggregate win, having defeated al-Merreikh 2-0 in the first leg.
Mazembe opened the scoring on the hour mark before Merreikh scored a consolation goal through Nigerian striker Kelechi Osunwa in the 70th minute.
Young Zambian Nathan Sinkala put the Congolese ahead in sauna-like Omdurman on 56 minutes after being set up by compatriot and fellow midfielder Rainford Kalaba.
Nigerian Kelechi Osunwa equalised for the Sudanese 15 minutes from time, but the task of scoring a further three goals proved far beyond the capabilities of Merreikh.
Mazembe, who stunned Brazilian outfit International in the 2010 Club World Cup before bowing out to Inter Milan, received a hostile reception in Sudan and the squad were largely confined to their hotel after being pelted with bottles.
Al Hilal were also eliminated in the second round to complete a miserable weekend for Sudanese clubs in a championship offering a $1.5 million first prize plus a place in the 2012 Club World Cup to be hosted by Japan.
Held 1-1 at home two weeks ago, Hilal took a first half lead in Algeria against ASO Chlef through Alaa Eldin Yousif, who poked a low cross over the goal-line at the far post.