Ghana’s hopes of keeping both representatives alive in this season’s CAF inter-club competitions will be tested this weekend as Medeama SC and Nations FC seek to overturn first-leg defeats.
Medeama face the tougher assignment on Saturday when they travel to Lubumbashi to take on five-time African champions TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League, while Nations FC will host Mali’s FC Diarra in the Confederation Cup at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Medeama head into the return encounter with a narrow 1-0 deficit after a late goal handed Mazembe victory at the T&A Park in Tarkwa.
Despite controlling significant portions of the first leg, Ibrahim Tanko’s side failed to convert its opportunities and was punished late in the game.
The Ghanaian champions must now produce a positive result in one of African club football’s most intimidating venues to keep their campaign alive.
A 1-0 victory for Medeama would take the tie to a penalty shootout, while a victory by two clear goals would guarantee their passage to the next round.
The Mauve and Yellow will look to Emmanuel Annor to provide creativity, with Abdul Salam, Prince Owusu and Kingsley Braye expected to lead the attacking charge.
Defensively, Fatawu Sulemana, Etse Dogli and Ebenezer Adade will have the difficult task of containing a Mazembe side accustomed to playing high-pressure continental matches in front of its home supporters.
Mazembe will enter the match with the advantage of a goal and home support at the Stade TP Mazembe, where the Congolese giants have traditionally been a formidable opponent.
Nations FC also chasing comeback
Nations FC face a similar uphill battle in the CAF Confederation Cup after suffering a 1-0 defeat to FC Diarra in Bamako in their first-ever appearance in continental competition.
The Abrankese-based club must overturn the deficit when the Malian side arrives at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Zdravko Logarusic and his players need to score at least two unanswered goals to progress without relying on a shootout.
FC Diarra secured the advantage with a second-half goal in the first leg and will seek to protect its lead in Accra.
Nations FC, however, will hope their home support can inspire a strong response as they attempt to keep their historic continental campaign on track.
With both Ghanaian clubs trailing by a single goal, the weekend’s return legs present Medeama and Nations FC with little room for error as they battle to extend Ghana’s presence in African club competitions.
