CAF Champions League

FEATURED: Asante Kotoko; The Final Push

Published

4 years ago

September 18, 2022

Kotoko took a giant leap to qualification this past week when they played away to Burkinabe side, RC Kadiogo in Benin through an Isaac Opong last gasp goal.

For a side, blessed with so much talent, personnel, and history, one would have expected them to be consistently making it to CAF’s annual competition of either the Champions League or the Confederations Cup but a multiplicity of factors tend to rear its head preventing the team from showing up on the big stage when it matters the most.

Last season, when the management led by Nana Yaw Amponsah took the initiative of returning to Africa, you could tell that the whole Kotoko enclave was buoyed by that initiative, they were happy if that is not an understatement.

In fact, in one of their visits together with the playing body and supporters’ leadership to the Manhyia to present their medals as part of winning the Ghana Premier League 2021/22 trophy, the Life Patron Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the king of the Ashanti Kingdom tasks the club to win the upcoming 2022 CAF Champions League.

“I am happy you won the league and I am also happy to be receiving it. What is left is the Africa Champions League”

“Most of the players are bought from other clubs and so they leave very early. They join the club and leave sometimes just after a season. We must all try and keep the core of the team for this African Campaign” he added

To a large extent, these words seem more of an encouragement to the entire team to make a mark on the African terrain than bringing the actual trophy home which seems more of a daunting task considering a lot of variables would have to be in play to help this team actualize this dream.

The club having dipped into the market to replace Prosper Ogun Narteh with Burkinabe coach, Seydou Zerbo will hope that his experience, disciplinarian traits, and tactical astuteness will help the team make the mark considering the club’s history of playing Burkinabe side’s in this competition.

If for nothing at all, it’s been 16 years since Kotoko played in the group stage of the CAF Champions League, and with the return leg up on the cards this Sunday, it’s imperative for the fans to show up in their numbers to give the team the needed boost for their African campaign.

CAF Champions League

Medeama SC bows out of CAF Champions League following defeat to TP Mazembe.

Published

1 month ago

September 14, 2026

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Medeama SC’s 2026/27 CAF Champions League campaign ended on Saturday, 12 September 2026, after a 3-1 loss to TP Mazembe in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie in Lubumbashi.

The Ghana Premier League champions travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit from the previous weekend at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa. In that match, a late goal by substitute Lise Ntumba Nyembo in the 87th minute gave the Congolese side a slender but crucial advantage.

Patrick Mwanungulu opened the scoring in the 16th minute, and Kazema Baso doubled the lead eight minutes later. Mwanungulu added a second goal in the 78th minute to put the result beyond doubt. Dominic Amponsah scored a late consolation for Medeama in the 87th minute, but it was not enough.

The 3-1 result completed a 4-1 aggregate victory for the five-time African champions, who advance to the next preliminary round against Zambia’s Red Arrows FC.

Medeama now turns their attention to defending their Ghana Premier League title.

CAF Champions League

Medeama SC fall to TP Mazembe in Tarkwa

Published

1 month ago

September 7, 2026

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Medeama SC lost at home to TP Mazembe in the first leg of the CAF Champions League First Preliminary Round at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday afternoon.

The Mauve and Yellow team was looking to make their mark in the first leg as they put their best foot in front, but it was the away team that produced the first notable chance through Chadrack Bingi-Belo.

Dominic Amponsah nearly found the opener, but TP Mazembe goalkeeper Marc Diouf’s heroic goalkeeping thwarted his efforts to keep the score goalless

The visiting team found another loop through, with attacker Josue Kazema, but Felix Kyei was on hand to keep his team in the game with a well-curated effort.

Summer signing Emmanuel Annor unleashed a powerful strike in the 64th minute, but Diouf produced another stellar save.

Substitute Lise Ntumba Nyembo struck in the 87th minute to hand TP Mazembe a crucial 1-0 victory.

Medeama SC will have to go above themselves in the second leg if they are to advance to the next stage of the prelims.

CAF Champions League

CAFCL Match Report & Highlights : Bibiani GoldStars 0-2 JS Kabyile

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2025

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

Ghana Premier League champions, GoldStars, have their work cut out for them as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit against Algerian giants JS Kabylie.

The Bibiani-based club lost the plot against their weekend opponents in a game they were hotly tipped to make an impression against the visitors.

Following a host of missed chances from the home team, they were punished by Mehdi Merghem.

The first half came to a close with the away side in the lead. 1-0.

The Algerian side doubled their lead from a well-worked team goal, which saw Guinea midfielder Babacar Sarr tap in from close range to give his side a two-goal advantage.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yzOCaFtcME

The Ghanian side will hope to redeem themselves when the pair meet on Sunday, September,28,2025, at 20:00 (Local Time) at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, Algeria.

CAF Champions League

CAFCL : Bibiani GoldStars vs JS Kabyile

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2025

Raphael Bannerman-Quartey

GoldStars will play in the CAF Champions League for the first time this weekend as they host Algerian giants JS Kabyile to the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 3:00 PM GMT.

The Ghanaian side were crowned champions in a little of 3 years after they gained promotion to the league. In a league that boasts of Heats of Oak, Kotoko, Medeama SC, and others, the western region based club did what many didn’t anticipate by winning the Ghana Premier League 2024/25 season.

Frimpong Manso in recent media interviews, has appealed to Ghanaians to come cheer the team on like they did with the BlackStars a fortnight ago.

He hopes to rely on his squad, which is blessed with many talents. Vincent Atinga is one of the experienced heads who will lead the team from the dugout on Saturday. A lot will be expected from him.

The Algerian club, JS Kabylie, is not new to Africa’s elite competition. They have won the CAF Champions League twice, in 1981 and 1990, so that gives them massive confidence coming into the tie for the weekend.

They will hope their domestic form of two points from nine in three games at the 14th spot won’t hamper their conquest against GoldStars.

The match officials for the game, Georges Gatogato of Burundi, will serve as centre referee, assisted by compatriots Emery Niyongabo (Assistant Referee I) and Olivier Nibogora (Assistant Referee II). Bertrand Manirakiza, also from Burundi, has been appointed as the fourth official.

Additionally, Alhaji Babagana Kalli Kalli of Nigeria will act as Match Commissioner for the fixture.

The game is set for 3:00 PM GMT at the Accra Sports Stadium this Saturday.