AS Vita Reach Caf Champions League Final

AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo broke a 50-year-long jinx to reach the final of the Orange Caf Champions League on Saturday.

The ‘Black Dolphins’ sealed a 4-2 aggregate win over CS Sfaxien in the Mediterranean city of Sfax after previously edging the Tunisian champions 2-1 at the Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa a fortnight ago.

They become the first team in the history of Africa’s elite club football competition to win a semi-final tie after taking a 2-1 first-leg lead- a feat which even Egyptian giants Al-Ahly failed to attain four years ago.

Caf Champions League.
Caf Champions League.
Zied Derbali pulled Sfaxien ahead in the 26th minute but Nelson Munganga levelled just before half-time.

Ugandan Yunus Sentamu placed Florent Ibenge’s side ahead ten minutes into the second half, leaving Sfaxien- 2006 Champions League runners-up- needing at least three goals to flick their disadvantage around.

There were not to be a fairytale finish as Vita awaits the winner of Sunday’s other semi-final between four-time African champions TP Mazembe against Algerians Entente Setif in Lubumbashi.

TP Mazembe will be hoping to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit and make history by joining fellow Zairian and 1973 winners Vita in the first Caf Champions League final between clubs from the same country.

The winner of the 2014 tournament will represent Africa at the Fifa Club World Cup billed for Morocco .

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