CAF Club Competitions: FC Samartex, Nsoatreman FC face North African challenge

Ghana’s continental club campaigners, FC Samartex and Nsoatreman FC, brace themselves for a daunting North African challenge in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, respectively, as both teams advanced in style last weekend.

However, the road ahead promises to be much tougher next month as FC Samartex face the might of Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League, while Nsoatreman FC square off against Algeria’s CS Constantine in a potentially intense Confederation Cup clash next month.

In their first preliminary round outings, FC Samartex comfortably secured a 2-0 aggregate victory over Victoria United of Cameroun, while a ruthless Nsoatreman FC side dispatched Chad’s Elect Sports with an emphatic 5-0 aggregate scoreline.

FC Samartex took control of their tie with a crucial 1-0 win in the first leg at Douala’s Japoma Stadium and completed the job yesterday with another narrow 1-0 win at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The decisive moment came in the eighth minute, courtesy of fleet-footed left-back, Isaac Afful. With a burst of speed down the left wing, Afful cut inside and unleashed a thunderous shot that flew into the roof of the net, igniting wild celebrations in Accra.

Coach Nurudeen Amadu’s side signalled their attacking intentions early, with Baba Musah Amando almost opening the scoring minutes before Afful’s strike.

Amando found himself one-on-one with Victoria United’s goalkeeper, Parfait Fokam, after breaking the offside trap, but his shot lacked venom and was easily saved.

Undeterred, Victoria United created their own opportunities, the best of which came in the 24th minute. Richard Nji’s powerful header from a Doualla Wilfred free-kick struck the crossbar, leaving the FC Samartex defence and goalkeeper Kofi Baah rooted to the spot.

The visitors continued to press for an equaliser, but FC Samartex’s defence remained resolute. Richmond Darko came close to doubling the lead with a fierce low drive that narrowly missed the target.

After the break, Victoria United made a tactical switch, bringing on Tetego Ryon, which shifted the momentum in their favour.

They dominated possession and tested the Ghanaian side’s defence, but their efforts were repeatedly thwarted. Tetego’s influence in midfield was telling, as he orchestrated play and constantly fed his wingers to stretch the FC Samartex backline, but Victoria United’s finishing let them down time and again.

As the game wore on, the home side had a golden opportunity to put the result beyond doubt when Afful was brought down in the penalty area by Victoria United’s Donald Bitjick. The referee’s decision to wave play on sparked outrage among the home fans, who were convinced they deserved a spot-kick.

In the dying moments, Victoria United threw everything at FC Samartex, but the Ghanaian side’s defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Baah, held firm. 

Nsoatreman FC, on the other hand, were dominant from the outset. A 3-0 victory in Accra set the tone before they wrapped up the tie with a 2-0 win away at Yaoundé’s Amadou Ahidjo Stadium last Saturday.

Their North African opponents, Raja Casablanca stormed through with a 7-1 aggregate thrashing of ASGNN, while CS Constantine progressed with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Rwanda’s Police FC.