CAF CC: Monastir Completes Double Over Mazembe, Book Quarter-final Spot

A week after their 2-0 victory in Lubumbashi, Tunisian club US Monastir once again defeated Tout Puissant Mazembe 1-0 on Wednesday, March 8. With the result, Monastir are leaders of group D, and they’re through to the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation cup quarter-finals.

Darko Novic’s men quickly opened the scoring through Boubacar Traoré in the 3rd minute with an unstoppable blast. The goal spurred Monastir even more as they went on to largely dominate the first period. The Tunisian giants were close to doubling the money through Salah Hrabi whose attempt missed the target at the 6th minute, and Yassine Chihaoui’s 18th minute strike came ever-so-close as well.

In the second half, the Ravens put their foot on the gas pedal and doubled their efforts in search of an equaliser. After a strike from Traoré above the woodwork at the 49th minute, goalkeeper Béchir Ben Said was forced to make two sensational saves at the 67th and 77th minutes. The latter remained imperial with another reflex save in stoppage time (90 + 6th).

Thanks to Ben Said’s saves, Monastir held on to win 1-0. YANGA defeated Bamako of Mali in the other group game. Beaten for the third time, TP Mazembe remains third with a complicated situation in group D.