Ghana Premier League champions FC Samartex 1996 will embark on their maiden CAF Champions League campaign this Sunday.
They will face a challenging clash against Cameroon’s Victoria United.
The match will occur at the 50,000-seat Japoma Stadium in Douala, marking a significant milestone for Coach Nurudeen Amadu and his squad as they debut on the continental stage.
The Samreboi-based club, coming off a domestic championship win, is eager to extend its fairy-tale run into Africa’s premier club competition. FC Samartex has bolstered its squad with critical signings, including former Hearts of Oak captain Kofi Agbesimah and Mohammed Alhassan Mankuyeli from RTU.
Mankuyeli expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make a notable impact despite their inexperience in continental competitions. “We are the Ghana League champions and are determined to leave our mark in the CAF Champions League.
As debutants, we’ve been working hard to ensure progress, starting with a victory in the first preliminary round,” Mankuyeli said.
In preparation for Sunday’s match, FC Samartex won the 2024 Nsenkyire Cup and played against Togolese side ASKO de Kara in Lomé, testing their readiness for the continental challenge.
Victoria United, from Limbe, is also making its continental debut after winning Cameroon’s top-flight title last season.
Their Bulgarian coach, Nicolae Dimitar Pantev, will rely on strong home support to secure a crucial win and gain an advantage before the return leg.
Simultaneously, Nsoatreman FC will launch their historic CAF Confederation Cup campaign at the Accra Sports Stadium, facing Chadian champions Elect Sport FC in the preliminary round’s first leg.
Coach Yaw Preko has assured that Nsoatreman FC will field a competitive team. The team aims for a decisive victory to set a strong foundation for the second leg.
