Nigeria Premier Football League side Remo Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Medeama SC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League qualifying match in Cape Coast, Ghana on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Ikenne side travelled to Ghana with the hope of getting a good start on their first appearance in the continent’s elite competition but a first-half goal from Jonathan Sowah was all the Ghanaian Champions needed to secure the advantage.
Remo Stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede handed starts to new signings Victor Collins and Isaac James, while the returning Sikiru Alimi was preferred in attack ahead of Ghanaian import Dela Akorli.
It was the Nigerians who were on the cush early on in the game but they were able to weather the storm and settle down. The first goalscoring opportunity fell to Dayo Ojo but his header was straight at home side’s goalkeeper.
With Medeama’s first meaningful attack, Jonathan’s effort from range was deflected beyond goalkeeper Kayode Bankole for the game’s opening goal. Remo responded with some sustained pressure afterward, but it did not produce any chance.
At the other end, goalkeeper Kayode produced a magnificent stop to deny Medeama from doubling their lead in the 35th minute. The home side held on to their lead until the interval.
After the break, Remo’s best chance of the game fell to Alimi but the former Sunshine Stars forward criminally missed when he should have done better. Meanwhile, the late introduction of former U20 winger Olalekan Adams and Franck Kwame did not yield any result as the Sky Blue Stars fell to that first-half goal from Sowah.
With all to play for, Remo Stars will need to step it up in the second leg of the clash in Ikenne next Sunday if they want to make the next stage of the competition.
