Medeama SC face an uphill task in their CAF Champions League journey after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Congolese powerhouse TP Mazembe in the first leg of their First Preliminary Round clash at the TnA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Mauve and Yellow put up a resolute fight against the continent heavyweights, only to be undone by a devastating late blow when substitute Lise Ntumba Nyembo struck in the 87th minute to hand the visitors a priceless away win.
Chances were at a premium during a tense first half. TP Mazembe carved out the opening notable look in the 33rd minute when Chadrack Bingi-Belo found room inside the box, but his header drifted straight into the welcoming gloves of Medeama goalkeeper Felix Kyei.
Medeama quickly punched back, coming inches away through Dominic Amponsah, whose close-range effort was thwarted by a brilliant reaction save from Mazembe shot-stopper Marc Diouf. Kyei was equally impressive just before the break, producing a spectacular stop in the 43rd minute to deny Josue Kazema and preserve parity at the interval.
The second period followed a similar, tightly contested script as both sides searched for a breakthrough.
Medeama thought they had found it in the 64th minute when winger Emmanuel Annor let fly from inside the area, but Diouf was once again equal to the task, pushing the effort away.
Just as the match appeared destined to end in a scoreless stalemate, the visitors struck. Caught napping by a sudden counter-attack deep in regulation, Medeama’s defense was breached when Nyembo reacted quickest to net the game’s only goal three minutes from time.
The late heartbreak leaves the Ghanaian side trailing by a single goal as they prepare for a daunting return leg in Lubumbashi next weekend, where they must orchestrate an away comeback to keep their Champions League dream alive.