Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC will meet seven-time CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe in the preliminary round of the 2026/27 competition.
The draw has paired the Tarkwa-based club with one of African football’s most successful sides, setting up a demanding test as Medeama seek to advance to the next qualifying round.
TP Mazembe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, bring considerable continental pedigree to the tie. For Medeama, overcoming such an established opponent would represent one of the most significant achievements in the club’s history and strengthen their reputation on the African stage.
The Ghanaian champions will nevertheless take encouragement from their previous experience in the competition. Medeama reached the CAF Champions League group stage for the first time during the 2023/24 season, where they were placed in a difficult section alongside Al Ahly, CR Belouizdad and Young Africans.
Although they ultimately fell short of reaching the knockout stage, Medeama made a strong impression during their maiden group-stage campaign. They secured memorable wins against CR Belouizdad and Young Africans at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, while also producing determined performances against Al Ahly, who went on to win the competition.
Those results and displays earned Medeama widespread praise for the way they competed against experienced continental opposition. The club’s players showed resilience and quality throughout the campaign, despite the challenge of facing some of Africa’s leading teams.
That experience will now be important as Medeama prepare for another campaign in Africa’s elite club competition. The Ghanaian side will aim to use the lessons from their first group-stage appearance to negotiate a tie against TP Mazembe and continue their progress in the tournament.
The first leg is expected to take place later this month. The return match in Lubumbashi will then decide which team reaches the next qualifying round of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League.
For Medeama, the draw offers both a major obstacle and an opportunity. TP Mazembe’s record makes them the stronger-established name in the tie, but Medeama’s previous continental performances suggest they will not approach the contest without confidence.
A victory over the Congolese giants would rank among the biggest successes in Medeama’s history. It would also provide further evidence of the club’s growing standing beyond Ghana, while giving them the chance to build on the progress made during their first CAF Champions League group-stage campaign.
