When Lamine N’Diaye received the call in September to take over the African champions TP Mazembe Englebert, the Senegalese coach had no hesitation in accepting the challenge. Not only would he be leading a side with an excellent pedigree in African football – in 1967 and 1968, then still called Tout Puissant Englebert, they became the first club to successfully defend the African Champions Cup – they were also well poised to advance to the semi-final of this year's CAF Champions League.