Democratic Republic of Congo football heavyweights TP Mazembe are expected to arrive in Harare Friday afternoon with a strong delegation of 100 people as they seek to overturn the disappointment they suffered at home and proceed to the group stage of the CAF Champions league at the expense of Zimbabwe champions CAPS United.

The big delegation will arrive at 1415hours aboard a private flight and will have two days to acclimatize ahead of Sunday’s match.

The five-time African champions failed to capitalise on home advantage at the weekend when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Makepekepe at their favourite Stade du TP Mazembe.

“It will be on Friday that the TPM will fly to the Zimbabwean capital aboard its large MD83,” the club wrote on its website.

TP Mazembe, who last won the tournament in 2015, missed the group stage last year and their new coach Thierry Froger has been given the task to take the team back to the top.

The French coach admitted CAPS United gave them a harsh reality check at home but wants his charges to build on the drawn game by scoring goals. Froger is only a few weeks into his job and is still trying to familiarise himself.

"It is a pleasure to discover a new competition and to discover my team for three weeks that we work together, it is good and short both to be ready.

“Training is one thing and the championship is another, we will be able to gauge to see the current state of the team to see what will be our points to work to make a very good season in the Champions League.

“This match in front of CAPS United will be played on two half-times of twice 90 minutes. To pass this stage we have to think about playing by practicing the style of play that we learned at the workouts. Do not be caught by the stakes and atmosphere of the encounter, remain lucid while being a strong team. "

"What is problematic is the time I have to prepare for this game. I would have liked to have five weeks of preparation to be sure. For me, there are always more points of uncertainty when you prepare a team for only three weeks.

“To remedy this problem, we worked a lot on the collective, I hope that we will see a real collective team. It will not be a player who will win it for TP Mazembe but all the players," said Froger.

Meanwhile, Bernard Camille of Seychelles will be the centre referee and will be assisted by countrymen Hensley Danny Petrouse and Gerad Pool.