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Medeama face Al Ittihad of Libya test

The national knockout champions of Ghana will hosts their Libyan counterparts on Sunday.

Medeama would have to overturn a 0-1 deficit in the first leg to progress to the second round of the competition.

The Yellow and Mauves side are yet to rediscover the form that urged them on to win the MTN FA Cup last season, having failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions this season, lost 3 and drawn 1.

Since last season the Libyan league having been played due to unrest in the country, but Al Ittihad have played some friendly games to get themselves prepared for this battle, including two games in Libya against Kotoko, which the former won 1 and drew the other.

Tom Strand the head coach of the Tarkwa lads believes with the support of Ghanaians who would troop to back his side take on Al Ittihad they will overcome the hurdle. Meanwhile, Moses Armah Parker, the president of the club, despite the away defeat was satisfied with their performance and stated after the game that they were even the better side in the game and will the home advantage count in the 2 leg.

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Medeama in their maiden appearance in the CAF Confederations Cup in 2014 managed to clear three hurdles, seeing off The Panthers of Equatorial Guinea, Mas Fez of Morocco, Zesco of Zambia, before the stumbled in the last knockout stage before the group stage against Leopards of Congo Brazzaville, so are they expected to make a bigger impart this time around.

In the first leg goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe and box to box midfielder Malik Akowuah sold out good display and they will again be in the thick of events for Medeama today. The likes of Kwakwa, Kwesi Donsu are expected to combine effectively with Benjamin Bature who would be leading the attack.

Head to head

This is the first time Medeama are  engaging a side from Libya in a CAF organized competition, however in their maiden appearance  they had a taste of North African side in Mas Fez of Morocco and they brushed them aside to advance.

Al Ittihad have an even performance against Ghanaian oppositions having won 1 and lost 1 in their two elimination encounters: Knocked out Gt. Olympics in 2000 in the Cup Winners Cup, while bowed out against Kotoko in 2008 in the CAF Confederations Cup.

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In all, Ghanaian clubs have faced Libyan clubs on 8 occasions, having won 3, lost 3 and drawn 2, whereas in Ghana Libyan sides have visited 4 times in Africa club competitions, losing 3 and drawing 1.

In 4 knockout games, it is two apiece, but in the last knockout tie, Ahly Benghazi eliminated Berekum Chelsea in 2014 in the CAF Champions League.

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