ES Sétif faces a crucial and high-stakes match this Sunday in Lubumbashi, where they will take on TP Mazembe in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final. After securing a narrow 2-1 victory in the first leg, the Algerian side knows the return leg will be a serious test of character and resilience.
Coach Khireddine Madoui, speaking to the CAF website, emphasized the importance of the match, calling it “already a final.” He praised his squad’s determination:
“All the players are motivated and determined to pull out all the stops to beat TP Mazembe.”
Reflecting on the challenges of the first leg, Madoui noted:
“We played behind closed doors, without our twelfth man. That had a big impact, but the main thing was to beat TP Mazembe.”
He also underlined the difficulty of the upcoming challenge:
“We know TP Mazembe. They have been one of the best teams on the continent for several years. Our task will be difficult, but we won’t give up.”
Madoui’s key message:
“A semi-final isn’t played, it’s won.”
With TP Mazembe needing just a 1-0 win to qualify on away goals, ES Sétif will need both tactical discipline and mental strength to hold their ground in one of Africa’s most hostile stadiums.
