Following the approval of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium as host to all group stage games of Medeama Sporting Club in the 2023/24 CAF Champions League Season, Medeama is hoping to take advantage of the home support as they look to secure their first win in the group stage against their Algerian opponents, CR Belouizdad.
The match is set to take place on the 1st December, 2023 at 4pm GMT.
Medeama SC
The Takoradi-based club automatically qualified for the CAF Champions League after winning the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League with 60 points after 34 matches played. The club went past Remo Stars of Nigeria and Horoya of Guinea in the preliminary stage to secure a group-stage qualification for the first time in History. The euphoria was however short-lived after the club tasted defeat in Egypt in their first group-stage game against Al Ahly. Back at the Baba Yara Stadium on Friday, Medeama SC will be hoping to turn things around to regain their fans’ trust.
CR Belouizdad
Being one of the most successive clubs in Algeria, the Algiers-based CRB has a rich history in CAF competitions with several qualifications under their belt. The club booked qualification into the 2023/24 CAF Champions League after winning the 2022/23 Algerian League with 64 points from 30 games played. CRB booked a group stage qualification after a 6-1 aggregate scoreline against BO Rangers in the Preliminary round. A 3-0 home win against Young African Club of Tanzania in the first group game sees CRB travel as favorites against Medeama on Friday.
Head-to-Head (Medeama vs CR Belouizdad)
Both clubs will be meeting against each other for the first time in history. Medeama SC will have to put in a lot of efforts to emerge victorious, with the team having lost their last three games played (two domestic games and one CAFCL game).
CR Belouizdad is in fine form with their last three games being favorable for them( 2 wins in the domestic League, and 1 in the CAFCL). The Algerian side are good away performers and will be a strong threat to Medeama’s efforts to defend themselves.
Players to watch
For the home side, prolific attacker, Jonathan Sowah will be the player to keep an eye on. The 24-year-old’s impressive performance in recent times earned him a national team call-up. Jonathan has scored four times for Medeama SC this season and has been an instrumental figure in their campaign to the group stage.
For the away side, Mouad Hadded put up a world-class performance in their first group stage game against Young African of Tanzania. The 26-year-old was in action for 90 minutes and was awarded a yellow card during the game. His super performance subsequently earned him the man of the match award.
CAF has appointed Gambian referee, Lamin N. Jammeh to take charge of the match and will be assisted by Abdul Aziz and Omar Darboe with Alhasan Baboucarr Bass as the fourth referee.
Group D Table after Matchday 1
1. Al Ahly – 3 points
2. CR Belouizdad – 3 points
3. Young African – 0 points
4. Medeama SC – 0 point
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Story by: David Kwaku Dzaku | univers.ug.edu.gh
