Medeama - We’ll sail through

The ambitious bankroller of Medeama Sporting Club, Moses Armah, has predicted a smooth passage to the semi-finals of the 13th edition of the CAF Confederation Cup despite being drawn against tough opposition in yesterday’s ballot in Cairo.

Ghana’s sole continental hopeful, Medeama, were drawn in Group A alongside Mouloudia Olympique (M.O.) Bejaia of Algeria, CAF Champions League and Super Cup holders, TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Young Africans of Tanzania, but Mr Armah, affectionately called Mospacka, is optimistic of his club’s chances of progressing to the last four stage.

“We’ll beat all of them to qualify, trust me,” he assured in a telephone chat with the Graphic Sports yesterday. 

He noted that though the opposition looks formidable on paper, Medeama have what it takes to sail through without much difficulty.

Medeama open the group campaign away against TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi on the weekend of June 17-19, while hosting MO Bejaia, who eliminated Ashantigold from this year’s Champions League, at the Sekondi Stadium at Essipon on June 28 or 29.

Medeama will then travel to Tanzania to challenge Young Africans between July 15 and 17, followed by the reverse fixture on July 26 or 27.

Medeama’s last home game will be against TP Mazembe on August 12, 13 or 14 before flying to Algeria to contend with MO Bejaia on August 23 or 24. 

The winner of Group A will play the second-placed team in Group B and vice-versa in the semi-finals.

Mospacka believes the same good form which saw Medeama through the early rounds would propel them to the grand final. The Tarkwa-based club has been consistent in scoring at their Essipon home base, with an average of two goals per match. 

The Ghanaians qualified to the ‘money zone’ in their second attempt last week at the expense of South African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, who have just been handed a free passage to the CAF Champions League following the disqualification of AS Vita of DR Congo.

Meanwhile, Group B is an interesting all-North African affair, comprising Kawkab Marrakech and FUS Rabat (both of Morocco), Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya.