TP Mazembe — The African Club That Reached the World Final

Jul 29, 2026

TP Mazembe — The African Club That Reached the World Final

3 mos ago 13:35

Show notes

TP Mazembe, the CAF Champions League and football in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club , exploring how a team from Lubumbashi became one of Africa’s most successful and internationally significant clubs. Founded in 1939, TP Mazembe have won 20 Congolese league titles and five African championships while building a continental powerhouse under longtime president Moïse Katumbi . Chris traces the club’s rise through stars including Trésor Mputu, Robert Kidiaba, Stopilla Sunzu, Rainford Kalaba and Mbwana Samatta . The centerpiece is Mazembe’s extraordinary 2010 FIFA Club World Cup run, when victories over Pachuca and Internacional made them the first African club ever to reach the final, where they faced Inter Milan . The episode also explores the Lubumbashi derby with FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo , rivalry with AS Vita Club, the Stade TP Mazembe, the club’s mining-region identity, its powerful recruitment network and the success of the TP Mazembe women’s team , winners of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. It’s the story of a Congolese superclub that permanently changed Africa’s place in global club football. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris. The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered The Underdog Football Show Thanks for listening!

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How did TP Mazembe reach the 2010 Club World Cup final?

How did TP Mazembe reach the Club World Cup final in 2010? Two wins in Abu Dhabi, a bouncing goalkeeper and a club started by monks. The full story.

From Why We Love This Club · Jul 29, 2026

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