Medeama and Nations FC receive $100,000 despite CAF inter-club exits

Medeama SC and Nations FC will each receive $100,000 despite their early exits from the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, respectively.

The financial support forms part of a new measure aimed at helping clubs cover some of the costs associated with participating in African club competitions, even when they fail to progress beyond the first preliminary round.

Medeama, the reigning Ghana Premier League champions, were eliminated from the Champions League by Congolese giants TP Mazembe after suffering a 4-1 aggregate defeat.

The Ghanaian side lost the first leg 1-0 at the TNA Park before Mazembe secured a 3-1 victory in the return fixture in Lubumbashi.

The result ended Medeama's hopes of reaching the group stage, with Mazembe advancing to the second preliminary round where they will face Zambia's Red Arrows.

Nations FC also suffered an early exit in the Confederation Cup on their debut appearance in the competition.

The Ghana FA Cup holders were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Mali's FC Diarra.

Nations FC lost the first leg 1-0 in Bamako before being held to a 1-1 draw at the Accra Sports Stadium in the return fixture.

FC Diarra's aggregate victory means they will now meet ASKO Kara in the second preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.

The exits of both Ghanaian clubs mean the country will have no representative in the group stage of either of Africa's two major club competitions for the 2026-27 season.

Medeama will now turn their attention to the Ghana Premier League as they seek to defend their domestic title, while Nations FC will focus on the Division One League following their brief continental campaign.

Despite the disappointment of their early eliminations, the $100,000 payment provides some financial relief for both clubs and is intended to help offset expenses incurred during their participation in the competitions.

The development also marks a change from previous seasons, when clubs eliminated at the opening preliminary stage received little or no financial return from their continental campaigns.