Ghana quintet close in Champs League glory

Five Ghanaian players are close to tasting CAF Champions League glory after helping their club, TP Mazembe to gain a 2-1 advantage in the first leg of the final away to USM Algier last Saturday

Solomon Asante playing his second Champions League final as well as Daniel Nii Adjei, Kissi Boateng, Yaw Frimpong and Gladson Awako were among the five the Mazembe squad that were on duty last Saturday at the Stade Omar Hamadi in Algiers, and could help the DR Congo giants, Mazembe claim their fifth African title in next week’s second-leg of the final in Lubumbashi.

While Frimpong and Boateng were in the starting line up, the rest were on the bench but they may be called to duty in next week’s epoch final

The DR Congo giants secured their win through strikes by Zambian Rainford Kalaba and Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta who scored for the visitors.

As expected, it was a high-tempo and uncompromising match which saw a player on each side sent off by the Egyptian referee.

Kalaba turned from hero to villian after attracting a straight red card for pushing an opponent in the face at the end of the first half.

Kalaba had put Mazembe ahead on 27 minutes with a looping shot over Mohamed Zemmamouche after he reacted quickest to a throw-in.

Algerian Hocine El Orfi was sent off midway through the second half after deliberately handling inside the box, with the foul resulting in the first penalty.

The African champions collect a $1.5 million prize and a place at the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.