Democratic Republic of Congo club TP Mazembe became favourites to claim a fifth CAF Champions League title after winning 2-1 at USM Alger of Algeria on Saturday in the first leg of the final.

Zambian Rainford Kalaba and Tanzanian Mbwana Samatta scored for the star-studded visitors, whose starting line-up also included footballers from DR Congo, Ghana and Mali.

T.P Mazembe have five of their key players from Ghana namely Gladson Awako, Yaw Frimpong, Solomon Asante, Daniel Nii Adjei and Kissie Boateng.

Mazembe, who host the second leg in Lubumbashi next Sunday, were awarded two penalties with a timid effort by Zambian Nathan Sinkala saved before Samatta scored from the other spot-kick.

Substitute Mohamed Seguer pulled one goal back for a disappointing star-less all-Algerian USM side at Stade Omar Hamadi in Algiers.

Each team has a player sent off by the Egyptian referee with Kalaba getting a straight red card for pushing an opponent in the face during first-half stoppage time.

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

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

The Congolese club doubled their lead after 79 minutes when Samatta was fouled by USM captain Nacereddine Khoualed and got up to calmly send the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Seguer turned a Mazembe defender just outside the penalty area on 88 minutes before hooking the ball over veteran Mazembe goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba.

The African champions collect a $1.5 million (1.35 million euros) prize and a place at the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.