Medeama kept their hopes alive for a spot in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals after securing a 1-1 draw against Tanzanian side Young Africans on Friday, 8 December 2023, at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The Ghanaian champions moved to the top of Group D with four points, mirroring the tally of record holders Al Ahly, who were set to face CR Belouizdad of Algeria later in the evening.
The Mauve and Yellow squad seized the lead in the 27th minute when striker Jonathan Sowah confidently converted a penalty. This came after Derrick Fordjour’s remarkable pace outwitted Dickson Job, resulting in a foul inside the box that earned Medeama the penalty. Job received a yellow card from the referee for the challenge.
However, Young Africans swiftly responded, equalizing nine minutes later through Paçome Zouzoua. The Ivorian player capitalized on dispossessing Fordjour before launching a powerful left-footed strike from within the box to level the score.
Despite the second half’s efforts, including Kofi Asmah’s close attempt with a header from a free-kick inside the box that narrowly missed the target, neither side could alter the scoreline.
This fixture marks the conclusion of the initial round of matches in the campaign, with the competition set to resume in February 2024. Medeama’s resilience in securing a crucial point against Young Africans keeps their aspirations alive in the quest for progression in the CAF Champions League.
