Two-time Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC have been handed one of the toughest draws in the first preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League after being paired with five-time African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The draw, conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday, August 6, sets up a fascinating contest between the Ghanaian champions and one of the continent’s most decorated clubs.
Medeama return to the CAF Champions League for only the second time in the club’s history after clinching their second Ghana Premier League title at the end of the 2025/26 season. The Mauve and Yellow enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign, collecting 62 points from 34 matches after recording 17 wins, 11 draws and six defeats to secure the league crown.
The Tarkwa-based side will be eager to build on the experience gained during their maiden CAF Champions League campaign in the 2023/24 season, where they reached the group stage and competed against some of Africa’s elite clubs. That experience is expected to serve them well as they prepare for another demanding continental journey.
Standing in their way, however, is TP Mazembe, a club synonymous with success in African football. The Congolese giants have lifted the CAF Champions League title five times (1967, 1968, 2009, 2010 and 2015) and boast vast continental experience, making them one of the tournament favourites every time they compete.
Despite losing some influential players during the transfer window, Medeama have strengthened their squad with new additions and will rely on the tactical guidance of head coach Ibrahim Tanko as they seek to overcome the formidable challenge. The former Black Stars assistant coach will be hoping to mould his revamped squad into a side capable of causing an upset against the African heavyweights.
The first-leg encounter is scheduled to be played in Ghana between September 11 and 13, with the return leg taking place in Lubumbashi a week later. The winner over the two legs will advance to the second preliminary round, one step closer to the lucrative group stage.
For Medeama, the tie presents not only a stern test but also another opportunity to demonstrate that Ghanaian club football can compete with the very best on the African continent.
By: Victoria Kwofie
