Medeama SC head coach Ibrahim Tanko says his players are fully prepared for their CAF Champions League preliminary-round meeting with TP Mazembe, after the Ghanaian champions began the season by winning the 2026 Champion of Champions trophy.
Medeama will face the five-time African champions in the first leg at TNA Park on Sunday, 6 September. The return fixture will take place in Lubumbashi on Saturday, 12 September, with the Ghanaian side seeking to make another notable impact in continental competition.
Tanko believes the domestic silverware has provided useful momentum before one of Medeama’s most demanding matches of the campaign. However, he also wants his coaching staff to assess the team’s performance in the Champion of Champions victory and address any weaknesses before the encounter with TP Mazembe.
“This is the last game before that game. So definitely, we are going to review the game today and see where we have to be better to make the game next week easier for us,” he told 3Sports.
The Medeama manager acknowledged that there was still work to do, but said the squad had reached the required level of readiness for the opening match.
“We are 100% ready for TP Mazembe.”
The upcoming tie represents an important early test for Medeama, who will be attempting to build on the success of their 2026 Champion of Champions triumph. Victory in that competition has given Tanko’s side an early trophy, but the CAF Champions League presents a significantly different challenge against one of Africa’s most established clubs.
TP Mazembe’s reputation adds further significance to the preliminary-round contest, with Medeama required to produce a strong home performance before travelling to Lubumbashi for the second leg. The two-match tie will determine which side advances in the competition.
Medeama will also be aiming to improve on their previous best CAF Champions League campaign. The club reached the group stage during its maiden appearance in the competition, and this season’s objective is to go beyond that achievement.
The Ghanaian champions will therefore begin the tie with both recent silverware and continental ambition behind them. Tanko’s immediate priority is to use the review of the Champion of Champions performance to fine-tune his squad before the first meeting with TP Mazembe.
With the opening leg being played at TNA Park, Medeama have the chance to establish an advantage on home ground. They must then protect or improve that position when the tie concludes in Lubumbashi six days later.
