If sub-Saharan Africa only had one team to represent the entire region in continental club football competition, TP Mazembe would be first-choice. In truth, that's essentially what the side from the Democratic Republic of Congo did when they won this year's CAF Champions League anyway as they nullified a North African dominance that has stretched back five years.
Since Mazembe last won the tournament in 2010, North African clubs have been crowned champions every year -- twice after beating a team from the same region in the final. During this year's tournament, seven of the eight group stage sides were from North Africa and three were from Algeria alone.
Yet against the odds, Mazembe triumphed to claim their fifth title after beating USM Alger 4-1 on aggregate. They now have the same number of trophies as Egypt's Zamalek (three behind Al-Ahly's all-time best of eight) and are proving a real force for the sub-Saharan fans to get behind.
Although Mazembe remain a mostly Congolese composed squad, their deep pockets allow them to shop widely. Among their purchases are Tanzanians, Zambians and Ghanaians and they are certain to attract more local players after this year's showing.
Yet the core of the club's strength comes from the Congo itself. They have established a fortress at home, guarded by one of the most intimidating "12th men" in world sport. The Lubumbashi faithful are passionate and partisan, to the point of being hostile. Sometimes they even scare their own team.
"There is so much pressure on us, the players, when we play at home due to the huge expectations of the fans," Nii Adjei, one of five Ghanaians in the side, said recently.
The fans provide a boost when they need it most and have been repaid with incredible results. The last time Mazembe lost a home match in the CAF Champions League was six years ago in 2009 and that same year they won their third title and the first of two successive Champions Leagues trophies.
The 2010 triumph is more memorable, if only because it was followed with a dream run to the final of the Club World Cup, and Mazembe have a chance to compete at the tournament again this year
The question will be whether they can repeat or better their showing from five years ago, while the Club World Cup will also be an opportunity for those Mazembe players who want to make their mark internationally to be seen.
The player upon whom most European eyes will be trained is Mbwana Samata. The Tanzanian striker finished as the joint leading goal-scorer in the CAF Champions League this season with seven goals, including a brace in the semifinals and two from the penalty spot in the final, and has already attracted some interest from abroad.
In January, Samata trained with CSKA Moscow but a deal did not materialise and he returned to Africa. Apart from prominent performances for Mazembe, he has also scored goals at international level, leading Tanzania to a 2-1 win over Malawi in a 2018 World Cup qualifier and a transfer seems imminent -- especially if he can impress in Japan in December.
Should Samata get an offer, he will be the only the third Tanzanian after Haruna Moshi, who played for Kalma FF in Sweden, and Renatus Njohole, who plays in Switzerland for FC Bavois, to ply his trade in Europe. It's something he believes could make playing football a viable career prospect in his home country.
"I'm pleased to have been able to show that it's possible," he told FIFA.com. "I'm proud of my journey so far and to be held up as an example in Tanzania, where few people have managed to have professional careers."
Samata could easily have been among the many who didn't make it. His father, a police officer, insisted he concentrate on studying instead of playing football and Samata had no choice but to wait until his schooling was done before he could contemplate life as a sportsman.
"In Africa, it's like a dream to be able to play football, perhaps more than elsewhere," he added. "For my father, there was no question of me prioritising football at the expense of my studies, even if lots of people said I had real potential. So, for a long time I had to be content with playing after school with my neighbourhood friends. But, after I finished secondary school, I was able to dedicate myself 100 per cent to football and really try my luck."
From there, his rise was prolific. At 18-years-old, Samata was signed by Tanzanian club Simba SC, scored 13 goals in 25 games and earned a national call-up.
TP Mazembe could not help but notice. Now, the rest of the continent can't help but notice them.