Zambian midfielder Nathan Sinkala opened the scoring for Mazembe on 56 minutes after recovering a ball in the box that compatriot Rainford Kalaba got past the last defender. Colins Ekechi Osunwa leveled the score for Al Merreikh on 75 minutes.

Mazembe received a hostile reception (photos) from Al Merreikh’s fans as they arrived in Sudan for the match. The team and its fans were advised by the police to remain in their hotel for their own security.

Mazembe have now reached the quarterfinals of the premier continental football competition for the sixth consecutive time, winning the previous two out of three after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) disqualified the then reigning champions last year for allegedly fielding an illegible player.

Last year’s controversial CAF’s decision, which came in the wake of Mazembe making history by becoming the first team from outside Europe or South America to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, prevented them from winning a record third consecutive Champions League title. The team vowed to appeal the decision to FIFA, the world football governing body.

The DR Congo football powerhouse announced in April that FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber had ruled in their favor on their appeal and said they would seek rehabilitation.

Mr. Tshisekedi said that the Union for Democracy and Social Progress has never been for a joint candidacy of the opposition to win elections.
“The elections are being held for the Congolese people, who are sovereign. They all want change. They know what they need to do, even if they were in front of 1000 candidates,” he said.

Asked about the plane he has chartered for his campaign, Mr. Tshisekedi said that the lease for the jet ends on Monday, November 21. He said he will continue campaigning with a DC- 3, which will probably arrive on Saturday, November 19.

Campaigning in Bunia, Orientale Province, Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) presidential candidate Vital Kamerhe, an opposition party, also rejected the strategy of a joint bid, which he said would benefit incumbent President Joseph Kabila. Instead, he proposed a strategy of “encirclement”.

The African champions finished second in the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E, after losing to the European champions Inter Milan 0-3 Saturday at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

Mazembe became the first team from outside Europe or South America to reach the final of the competition after they beat the South American champions SC Internacional of Brazil 2-0.

DR Congo international and TP Mazembe striker Dioko Kaluyituka was awarded the Silver Ball at the tournament while Cameroon star and Inter striker Samuel Eto’o was named Best Player and Argentina international and SC Internacional midfielder Andrés d’Allesandro received the Bronze Ball.

Happy and grateful fans lined up the streets as the team’s convoy made the trip from the Luano airport to downtown Lubumbashi.

Many wearing the black and white team’s colors, the fans sung and danced to honor those who carried the hopes – and were the pride – of an entire continent at the competition.

The fans were grateful for an epic year in which the DR Congo side also made history by becoming the first team in Africa to successfully defend its Champions League title twice. Mazembe were the first team in Africa to retain the champions title in 1968. The team was finalist a record four consecutive times in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

 Before a sell-out 35,000 crowd at Kenya Stadium that included President Joseph Kabila, Mazembe put the pressure on Heartland from the start but the score remained unchanged until Victor Ezuruike put the ball into his own net at the 72nd minute.

After losing 1-2 in in the first leg in Owerri last Sunday, Mazembe only needed a 1-0 score to clinch the Africa Champions League for the third time because of their away goal.

Mazembe reached the CAF Champions League finals a record four consecutive years from 1967 to 1970. They won in 1967 and successfully defended the following year.

The win comes with a 1,500,000 US Dollar prize-money and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA World Club Championship slated for the United Arab Emirates in December.

Al Hilal came into the game determined to redress their 5-2 loss in the first leg in Omdurman. They needed to win by a margin of 4-0 to advance to the final.

Al Hilal’s Zimbabwean striker Edward Sadomba scored a goal at the 25th minute and followed with another seven minutes later.

Mazembe did not play well for a team that was expected to win at home as they had done in the tournament this year before today’s game.

The Crows will face Heartland of Nigeria in the final. The first leg will be played on the weekend of 31 October – 1 November  in Nigeria and the second leg a week later in Lubumbashi.

TP Mazembe Englebert reached the CAF Champions League finals a record four consecutive years from 1967 to 1970. They won in 1967 and successfully defended the following year.