TARKWA, Ghana - TP Mazembe left it late to secure a priceless away advantage, beating Medeama SC 1-0 in the first leg of their 2026-27 CAF Champions League qualifying tie on Saturday.
With the game heading for a stalemate at the TNA Stadium, L. N. Ntumba struck in the 87th minute to silence the home crowd and give the five-time African champions a crucial lead to take back to Lubumbashi.
For Medeama, the result was a cruel blow, but the occasion still won the hearts of fans in Tarkwa.
For the first time, the mining community hosted a CAF inter-club competition, and the supporters responded - turning out in numbers at the TNA Stadium to back the Mauve and Yellow despite the defeat.
It is familiar opposition for both clubs. Their most memorable meetings came during the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup group stage, when home advantage proved decisive - Medeama winning 3-2 in Ghana before Mazembe claimed a 3-1 victory in the DR Congo.
Medeama now face a daunting task. They must overturn the deficit away from home when they travel to Lubumbashi for the decisive second leg next Saturday, September 12, at 1:00 PM GMT.
The Tarkwa side also have domestic business to attend to, with an outstanding Ghana Premier League fixture against Dreams FC still to be played.
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