8 November 2009
Tout Puissant Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo bridged a 41-year gap by regaining the CAF Champions League title.
But it was a close call before a sell-out crowd of 35,000 in Lubumbashi, with Mazembe defeating Heartland of Nigeria 1-0 to collect the record $1.5m first prize on away goals.
Heartland took a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the final and held out for 74 minutes before Victor Ezuruike conceded an own goal to bring the trophy back to copper-rich southern Congo.
Mazembe won the fledgling African championship in 1967 and 1968 and this year they budgeted $5m to try and lift a trophy that symbolises continental club supremacy.
Part of that sum was spent on importing 59-year-old French coach Diego Garzitto and his pre-match prediction that the crowd packed into the Kenya Stadium would drive the Congolese 'Crows' to success came true.
Apart from the financial windfall, Mazembe qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 with Spanish giants Barcelona among possible opponents.
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