By Kwame Bediako
Medeama SC suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to five-time African champions TP Mazembe in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary-round tie at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The Ghana Premier League champions held the Congolese giants for most of the match, but substitute Lise Ntumba Nyembo broke the deadlock in the 87th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack to hand Mazembe a crucial away victory.
TP Mazembe’s best first-half opportunity came in the 33rd minute when Chadrack Bingi-Belo headed a free-kick straight at Medeama goalkeeper Felix Kyei. Medeama’s Dominic Amponsah was denied from close range by Mazembe keeper Marc Diouf, while Kyei produced another strong save just before half-time to stop Josue Kazema. After the restart, Emmanuel Annor tested Diouf again from inside the box in the 64th minute, but the shot was saved.
Medeama now travel to Lubumbashi, DR Congo, for the return fixture on Saturday, 12 September, needing at least a 1-0 win to force extra time and penalties, or a two-goal winning margin to progress to the second preliminary round. Head coach Ibrahim Tanko said his side are confident of overturning the deficit away from home.
