By Simon Asare
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – Reigning Ghana Premier League champions FC Samartex 1996 and MTN FA Cup holders Nsoatreman FC will go into the return legs of their preliminary CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup encounter with strong chances of progressing.
FC Samartex 1996 head into their second-leg encounter against Cameroon’s Victoria United as huge favourites following their impressive 1-0 win at the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
Emmanuel Mamah’s second-half strike was enough to give the Ghanaian Timber giants a slender lead heading into Sunday’s return game at the Accra Sports Stadium.
FC Samartex coach Nuru Amadu and his lads would certainly be elated with the away victory but must be wary of the threat the Cameroonian side would pose in the second leg.
Despite being second fiddle in the first leg, Victoria United, the reigning Cameroonian Elite Division Champions, would be hoping to upset the odds and progress to the next round of competition.
Nsoatreman FC, on the other hand, has one foot in the second round after a 3-0 first-leg victory over Chad’s Elect Sport at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In actuality, Nsoatreman FC should have won by a large margin when the Chadians were reduced to ten men early in the second half after experienced custodian Bashir was dismissed.
Hopefully, Nsoatreman FC will not live to regret their squandered opportunities in the first leg when they face Elect Sport at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé on Saturday, August 24, 2024, in the return leg.
Despite being played on neutral ground in Cameroon, the Chadian side would be inspired by the second-half display in the first leg and would be hoping to upset the odds.
However, the two Ghanaian sides should be able to come through with qualification to the next round as they await very difficult pairings against some of the continent’s finest.
FC Samartex, if they should progress, would likely meet Morocco’s Raja Club Athletic, who secured a 2-1 away win against ASGNN, while Nsoatreman FC would likely meet Algeria’s Constantine, who won 2-0 against Police FC in the first leg.
Both Nsoatreman and FC Samartex 1996 would have a chance to win their first silverware of the upcoming season when they lock horns at the TNA Stadium for the 2024 Super Cup on August 31, 2024.
GNA