TP Mazembe Gears Up for CAF Champions League Semi-Final Against ES Sétif
TP Mazembe is intensifying preparations ahead of their crucial CAF Champions League semi-final first leg against ES Sétif this Saturday. Under the leadership of French coach Patrice Carteron, the Lubumbashi-based club is focusing on both physical and tactical readiness for the encounter in Algeria.
In an interview with the club’s official website, Carteron outlined the comprehensive approach taken to ensure his players are at their best. “It will be a mix of physical preparation, necessarily, in relation to the state in which we recover the players after their difficult national selections,” he explained. “Some players have expended a lot of energy on international duty, while others have not played for several weeks, so we need to catch up on fitness.”
The coach emphasized the importance of tactical drills tailored to the challenge posed by a strong ES Sétif side. “We have planned a lot of tactical work for this confrontation. Against a very good Entente Sportive Sétifienne team, we must prepare both our defensive and offensive play, as well as set pieces.”
Carteron also highlighted the mental aspect of preparation, particularly for players returning from international duty. “The objective is to perfect our mentality to ensure that players who have been away and may have had their heads elsewhere for a few days come back with a commando spirit. We want to get a fantastic result for Mazembe in Sétif on Saturday.”
TP Mazembe, four-time winners of the CAF Champions League, are determined to build on their legacy and secure a place in the final as they face the Algerian side in a high-stakes showdown.
