Medeama Handed Stern Test Against TP Mazembe in CAFCL Qualifiers
Ghana’s representatives in the 2026/27 CAF inter-club competitions now know the hurdles standing between them and the next stage after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the preliminary round draws on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
Medeama SC, champions of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League, have been paired with African heavyweights TP Mazembe in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the opening round of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League qualifiers.
The first leg will be played at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa before the Yellow and Mauves travel to Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the decisive return leg. The fixtures are scheduled for the opening weeks of September.
Should Medeama negotiate the difficult tie, they will face another stern challenge in the second preliminary round against either Tunisian side Club Africain or Malian champions Djoliba AC for a place in the group stage.
Meanwhile, MTN FA Cup holders Nations FC will begin their maiden continental campaign in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup with a two-legged encounter against Mali’s FC Diarra.
The Kumasi-based club will travel to Mali for the first leg between September 4 and 6 before welcoming their opponents to Ghana for the return fixture from September 11 to 13 as they seek to extend their historic debut appearance in African club football.
Medeama Face Familiar Continental Rivals
The draw reunites Medeama with one of Africa’s most successful clubs. TP Mazembe are five-time CAF Champions League winners, with their most recent continental triumph coming in 2015, and remain one of the continent’s most experienced sides in international competition.
The Congolese giants also share previous history with Medeama. The clubs met during the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup group stage, where the Ghanaian side earned a 1-1 draw in the first meeting at the Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi before suffering a 3-1 defeat in the return fixture in Lubumbashi.
That previous encounter adds another layer of intrigue to this year’s contest, with Medeama aiming to overturn history against opponents renowned for their formidable home record and extensive experience in continental tournaments.
Despite the challenge, Medeama will take confidence from their domestic success and the advantage of hosting the opening leg, knowing that a positive result in Tarkwa could provide the platform for a memorable qualification campaign.
Nations FC Begin Historic Continental Journey
For Nations FC, the draw marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history following their qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup by winning the 2025/26 MTN FA Cup.
The first-round meeting with FC Diarra presents the club with an opportunity to make an immediate impact on the continental stage. Victory over the Malian side would set up a second preliminary round clash against either Niger’s AS Zam or Togo’s ASKO de Kara.
The two Ghanaian clubs will carry the country’s hopes in this season’s CAF competitions, with both aiming to progress beyond the preliminary stages and secure places in the lucrative group phase.
While Medeama face arguably one of the toughest draws available against a continental powerhouse, Nations FC will be eager to announce themselves in African football by navigating their way past FC Diarra. The outcomes of both ties will determine whether Ghana maintains strong representation in this season’s CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.