Nsoatreman FC suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Algerian club CS Constantine in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The match left the Ghanaian FA Cup champions with an uphill task as they prepare for the return leg in Algeria.
CS Constantine’s striker, Zakaria Benchaa, proved to be the difference maker, opening the scoring in the 12th minute with a superb solo effort that stunned the home crowd.
Benchaa was back on the scoresheet in the 27th minute, calmly slotting in his second goal to double his team’s advantage.
Despite a stronger second-half performance from Nsoatreman, where they created several promising chances, they were unable to find the back of the net. Constantine’s defense remained solid, preventing the hosts from closing the gap.
Nsoatreman FC now faces the daunting task of overturning the two-goal deficit when they travel to Algeria for the second leg, scheduled to be played at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium next Sunday.
A win on aggregate would see the Ghanaian side advance to the group stages of the prestigious continental competition.
The upcoming fixture is critical for Nsoatreman’s aspirations on the African stage, and they will need to deliver a standout performance to keep their CAF Confederation Cup hopes alive.
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