TP Mazembe claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Medema in the first preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Saturday. The away side took all three points from Ghana thanks to a decisive moment in the closing stages. L. Nyembo Ntumba broke the deadlock in the 87th minute, and that proved sufficient for the visitors.
The goal came late enough that Medema's hopes for a comeback were fading fast. By then the hosts had spent 87 minutes searching for an equaliser without success. And here's the thing about these early-round ties — one moment often carries the weight of the whole contest.
Mazembe's recent form suggests they arrived with confidence. They had won their previous two matches convincingly, 2-0 against Celest and 3-0 over Don Bosco, before a goalless draw with Saint Elouy Lupopo. That run of results meant they came into this fixture knowing they could back it up.
Medema's recent record read differently. They beat ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in August, but had also lost to SOA 1-2 and suffered a heavy 4-2 defeat to Hearts of Oak. The inconsistency showed up on the pitch, where they could not find a response after Nyembo Ntumba's strike.
The result puts Mazembe in a strong position to progress. A 1-0 away win in the first leg gives them something to build on, and the visitors have shown they can close out tight games when it matters.
