Medeama, Nations FC chase comebacks in CAF inter-club ties

Medeama SC and Nations FC will be looking to overturn first-leg defeats and reach the second preliminary round of the CAF inter-club competitions this weekend.

Medeama, the reigning Ghana Premier League champions, face a difficult task after losing 1-0 to TP Mazembe at the TNA Park in Tarkwa in the first leg of their CAF Champions League tie.

Despite dominating large periods of the match, Medeama were punished late on when Lise Ntumba Nyembo scored in the 87th minute to give the visitors a narrow advantage.

The second leg will be played at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, on Saturday, 12 September at 14:00 GMT.

Medeama have already arrived in Lubumbashi as they seek the victory required to overturn the deficit and progress to the next round.

The aggregate winners will face Zambia's Red Arrows FC in the second preliminary round.

Nations FC are also hoping to recover from a first-leg defeat when they host FC Diarra of Mali in the CAF Confederation Cup.

The Ghanaian FA Cup holders lost 1-0 at the Stade Mamadou Konaté in Bamako last week, with the decisive goal coming in the 55th minute.

Nations FC will have home advantage in Sunday's second leg, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The club has announced free entry for supporters as it seeks a result strong enough to secure qualification on aggregate.

The winner of the tie will meet either Niger's AS Zam or ASKO de Kara of Burkina Faso in the second preliminary round.

Both Ghanaian clubs therefore face crucial tests, with Medeama needing to score in Lubumbashi and Nations FC hoping to make home advantage count as they pursue progress in Africa.