However, the TP Mazembe victory is no reason for their captain, Pamphile Mihayo to be excited. He has rather sounded a note of caution to his fellow players, telling them it is not yet time to celebrate and pop the champagne bottles. “I invite all of us to concentrate on the tough road that still lie ahead after leading the defending champions to a nerve wrecking 3-1 victory,” Mihayo told journalists in Lubumbashi.

“We managed to secure the score we needed. I would have been even more comfortable had we scored another goal. But even then, I cannot complain and I believe we still have a mountain to climb in Algeria in a fortnight but I believe if we score a single goal, we should be home and dry,” he added.

Team President Moise Katumbi Chapwe said despite missing their inspirational captain Tresor Mputu who is serving a 12 month FIFA suspension, he was happy even though not entirely satisfied, but was nonetheless happy about the workman-like performance put up by his team.

“We were worth at least five goals on the day,” said Katumbi. “And although I am not entirely satisfied, I got to give the boys credit for breaking an unbeaten run by this Algerian team since the start of this year’s African Champions League. They came here with a perfect record having never lost a single match, but we dented that proud record.”