What ever the outcome of the final of the Fifa Club World Cup that will take place in Abu Dhabi-United Arab Emirates tomorrow, a Cameroonian is going to lift the trophy as two compatriots are in both teams playing the final. Narcisse Ekanga who used to play for Astres of Douala will this time be defending the colours of Tout Puissant Mazembe, whereas ace striker, Samuel Eto’o Fils will be gunning for yet another title with Inter Milan. Despite their presence in both clubs, most Cameroonians will have a soft spot for Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who have made Africa proud by its historic qualification for the final of the global tournament. Samuel Eto’o Fils himself admitted in an interview that he was a fan of T.P. Mazembe although he sees the club like any other adversary in the tournament.
There is no questioning that four-time African champions Tout Puissant Mazembe Englebert are a force to reckon with on the black continent. Now, having won the CAF African Champions League for the last two years in succession, the Congolese outfit has now started to throw their weight around on the global stage. Club de Futbol Pachuca can vouch for that after going down 1-0 to the Lubumbashi side in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. Before going ahead to beat the Latin American champions Internacional do Porto Alegre 2-0 to at the semi final encounter where the Brazilians totally lost control of the traditional seductive play style. Although it had to happen one day, it still came as a shock when a team from outside Europe and South America eventually reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. While Congo DR’s TP Mazembe Englebert, architects of this remarkable accomplishment, put on such an outstanding team performance to progress from their semi-final against SC Internacional do Porto Alegre, it was a heroic display from their goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba that provided the platform for their unexpected victory.
The Crows’ new Senegalese coach, Lamine N’Diaye has had a big hand giving them this added steel. A renowned tactician, N’Diaye’s popularity with TP Mazembe fans, is such that they rate him as highly as the well-known Portuguese coach, Jose Mourinho regaling him with chants of “Mourinho! Mourinho!” after the 5-0 defeat they had over Esperance of Tunis in the first leg of this year’s CAF Champions League final.
