Medeama crashes out of CAF Champions League

Medeama’s CAF Champions League campaign came to a disappointing end after the Ghanaian champions suffered a 3-1 defeat to TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on Saturday.

The result saw Medeama lose the tie 4-1 on aggregate, following their 1-0 defeat in the first leg at the TNA Stadium in Tarkwa last Sunday.

Needing at least two goals to overturn the first-leg deficit, Medeama faced a difficult task against the experienced Congolese giants on their home turf.

Mazembe wasted little time in putting the visitors under pressure, taking the lead just three minutes into the game through Patrick Mwaungulu.

The early setback left Medeama with an even bigger mountain to climb, and their situation worsened in the 19th minute when Josué Kazema doubled Mazembe’s advantage.

With a two-goal deficit on the night and three goals required to progress on aggregate, Medeama struggled to find a way back into the contest.

Mazembe controlled the game for long periods and continued to threaten as Medeama searched for a response.

The home side eventually extended their advantage in the 76th minute when Mwaungulu struck again, converting a free-kick to make it 3-0.

Mwaungulu’s second goal of the evening effectively settled the tie, leaving Medeama needing a remarkable late comeback to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

The Ghanaian champions managed to pull one back through Dominic Amponsah, but the goal came too late to change the outcome.

Mazembe held on for a 3-1 victory and advanced to the next stage with a convincing 4-1 aggregate triumph.

For Medeama, the defeat brings their Champions League campaign to an early end and represents a disappointing outcome for the Ghanaian champions, who had hoped to make a deeper impact on the continental stage.

Their elimination was effectively shaped by the two-leg tie, with Mazembe taking advantage of their opportunities in both matches.

Medeama’s 1-0 home defeat in Tarkwa had left them with little margin for error heading into the return fixture in Lubumbashi.

They needed to score twice without conceding to overturn the deficit, but Mazembe’s early goals made that task considerably more difficult.

Despite Amponsah’s late consolation, Medeama could not prevent the Congolese side from completing a comfortable aggregate victory.

The result means Mazembe progress while Medeama bow out at the preliminary stage of the CAF Champions League.