(File photo)

Mazembe beat Motema Pembe 2-0 on Sunday to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table with just one match left.

This means they cannot be overtaken by their closest rivals Vita Club who were held to a goalless draw by Don Bosco.

The title victory means Mazembe will play in the Champions League next season after being booted out of this year's competition.

The DR Congo club was banned from defending the Champions League title earlier in the year after fielding an ineligible player.

It followed a complaint from Tanzania's SC Simba that the defending champions had fielded an ineligible player while eliminating them in the second round.

A Caf committee found that the player Janvier Bokungu was already contracted to Tunisia's Esperance and therefore expelled Mazembe from the tournament.

They will be considered as one of the firm favourites, having dominated the continental club competition over the past three years.

Mazembe transformed their continental dominance to the global stage last year when they stunned Internacional of Brazil before losing to Inter Milan in the final of the Club World Cup.

They have started preparing for a comeback to continental football by purchasing a second plane for transporting players to international matches.

The MD-83 model with 140 seats was unveiled in Lubumbashi last month.