FC Samartex, Nsoatreman FC set to begin maiden Africa campaigns on Sunday

Two Ghanaian football clubs, FC Samartex and Nsoatreman FC, are set to embark on their first African campaigns this weekend with great anticipation.

FC Samartex, the current Ghana Premier League champions, will compete in the CAF Champions League, while Nsoatreman FC, the FA Cup winners, will participate in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Both clubs are making their debut in these prestigious continental tournaments and are eager to leave a lasting impression.

In the first leg of the preliminary round, FC Samartex will travel to Cameroon to face Victoria United FC on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the Japoma Stadium.

Paul Anyaba, the Business Development Manager of FC Samartex, expressed the club’s ambitions in an interview with Joy Sports, stating their goal of reaching the group stage.

"If we reach the group stage, it will be a significant achievement not just for our club, but for Ghana as a whole. We are focused and determined to progress," Anyaba said. He added that despite Victoria United being their first challenge, the team is confident in their ability to advance further, potentially facing Raja Casablanca in the next round. The return leg will take place at the Accra Sports Stadium on August 25, 2024.

Meanwhile, Nsoatreman FC will host Elect-Sport FC from Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday. Yaw Preko, who recently took over as head coach on a two-year contract, expressed his team’s readiness for the encounter.

"I pushed my players hard in the Nsenkyire Cup to ensure they were prepared. After a week of training since then, I can see the team is gelling well. We are ready for Sunday’s Confederation Cup match," Preko said.

If Nsoatreman FC triumphs over Elect-Sport FC, they will move on to face either Police FC of Rwanda or CS Constantine of Algeria in the next round.

The return leg for this tie will be held at a neutral venue in Cameroon on Saturday, August 24, 2024, as Elect-Sport FC’s home ground does not meet CAF’s standards for hosting international matches.