Ghana’s Medeama SC opened their CAF Champions League campaign with a home game at the TNA Stadium in Tarkwa, but the visitors from the Democratic Republic of Congo, TP Mazembe, secured a 1‑0 win in the first leg of the preliminary tie.
Medeama controlled the opening 15 minutes and kept the DRC side at bay for most of the first half, creating chances but failing to break through the Mazembe defence. The half ended goalless, leaving the home side with a narrow advantage to carry into the break.
After the interval, the match turned into a tense battle as both teams sought the opening goal. TP Mazembe pressed hard, coming close on several occasions, but it was not until the 86th minute that they finally broke the deadlock, sending the Tarkwa crowd into a mix of disappointment and concern.
With the first leg finished, Medeama now face an uphill task in the return leg at the Stade des Martyrs in Lubumbashi. The Ghanaian side will need to overturn a one‑goal deficit while also managing the travel and climate differences that come with playing in the DRC.
The defeat leaves Medeama’s continental ambitions in jeopardy, but the club’s management remains optimistic about their ability to regroup and push for a comeback in the second leg.
As the teams prepare for the next encounter, fans and pundits alike will be watching to see whether Medeama can leverage home advantage and the experience of their squad to overturn the early setback.
