In the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round, Ghana’s representative, Nsoatreman, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Algerian side CS Constantine at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, September 13, 2024.
The match, played in the afternoon, saw Nsoatreman, the Ghanaian FA Cup champions, struggle against their North African opponents. The game began with promise as Kwabena Adu Meider nearly gave the home side an early lead. In the 7th minute, Meider’s close-range effort narrowly missed the target, leaving the home fans hopeful.
However, CS Constantine quickly took control. Just five minutes later, striker Zakaria Benchaa broke the deadlock with a superb solo effort. Picking up the ball near the center circle, Benchaa maneuvered through the Nsoatreman defense and expertly finished past the goalkeeper, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Benchaa added to his tally in the 27th minute, doubling Constantine’s advantage with another precise finish. Despite a more determined performance from Nsoatreman in the second half, they failed to convert several scoring chances, making their task for the second leg significantly more challenging.
Nsoatreman will need to overturn the two-goal deficit when they travel to Algeria for the second leg at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium next Sunday. The winner will advance to the group stage of the competition, making the upcoming match crucial for Nsoatreman’s continental ambitions.
