We will have to be at our best against Al Ahly - Lamine N’Diaye

·      Mazembe looking to put a halt to a potential 10-year drought

·      We have been preparing for such occasions since the start of the season

·      The players were tired of seeing other clubs dominate the continent

DR Congo football giants, TP Mazembe have a massive task ahead of them as they prepare to welcome defending champions and record holders, Al Ahly for the first leg of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Semi-Finals on Saturday, 20 April.

Since lifting Africa’s most prized club football title back in 2015, the five-time champions and former FIFA Club World Cup™ finalists are looking at ending what could potentially be a 10-year drought since lifting the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title.

Mazembe’s last continental title came in 2017 when they won the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup in succession after doing so the previous season.

CAFOnline had an exclusive sit-down with head coach, Lamine N’Diaye on his sides’ chances and quest to end the lengthy wait.

Cafonline: After three seasons of absence, what has been the secret to the rise in form in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League?

Lamine Ndiaye: We have leaders who have a lot of ambition. Going three years without a Champions League final is an anomaly for a club like Mazembe. I would also say that the players’ burst of pride was a key factor this year. TP Mazembe is a big club with a track record that goes beyond the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The players were tired of seeing other clubs dominate the continent. They rolled up their sleeves and the results are now there.

You will face Al Ahly in the semi-finals on Saturday. What sort of approach can we expect from Ravens?

We need to be at our best. We have great respect for Al Ahly who are the most successful team on the continent. When they arrive at this level of competition, they are formidable, even more formidable than at the start of the competition. We expect a very difficult match. However, we have every chance. We will have to be good in both matches in order to make it to the final.

What would be the best way to approach two legs against a team like Al Ahly?

I have a lot of boys who have not yet evolved to this level. This match should not be played before the kick-off. The role of the staff is to channel their energy, to try to put things into perspective and to prepare as best as possible. We are going into retreat, far from the city, far from the comments. We are going to have a good clean break to recharge our batteries and prepare for this match.

How are you preparing mentally and physically for such a massive occasion?

This is not a meeting that we are preparing for today. Since the start of the season, we have been preparing for such meetings. We are not going to change anything in our habits. We are just going to get the players back on track because we are coming off three matches that we played away. We played in Luanda against Petro and one of them was against our rivals AS Vita in Kinshasa.

Lamine your love for the club is well known. Where does this passion stem from?

It’s a club that holds a unique place in my heart. I have already won the Champions League with TP Mazembe, that’s no small thing. Then I reached a FIFA Club World Cup final in 2010, you won’t forget that. Whether it's the public, the leaders, everyone welcomes me here with open arms. For my part, I try to do my best to satisfy them all the time.

Finally, how would you describe your experience as a coach in this TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and what does it mean to you personally?

It’s the best competition there is. The CAF Champions League is the holy grail. Nobody thought we could reach this stage of the game this year, but that was my goal. It was to find the glory of yesteryear. I think the credit goes to the players who fought tooth and nail to get to this point.