FC Samartex 1996 marked their Caf Champions League debut with a significant 1-0 victory over Cameroonian side Victoria United in the first leg of their first preliminary round tie at the Japoma Stadium on Sunday.
The match’s decisive moment came in the second half when Emmanuel Mamah rose highest to nod in a powerful header from a corner, giving the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League (GPL) winners a valuable away goal and the advantage heading into the return leg.
Coach Nurudeen Amadu stuck with the core of his lineup, featuring Kofi Baah in goal and captain Ebenezer Acquah marshalling the defense. Mamah, who led the attack, proved instrumental in securing the win for the Timber Giants.
Victoria United began the match brightly, controlling possession in the early stages, but were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities to trouble the Samartex defense.
As the game progressed, the Ghanaian side grew into the contest, playing with increasing confidence, though they struggled to break the deadlock in the first half.
After the break, Samartex came out with renewed intensity, applying sustained pressure on the Cameroonian defense. Their efforts paid off when Mamah met a well-delivered corner with a towering header, putting the visitors ahead.
Despite a frenetic final fifteen minutes, where both sides pressed for a goal, neither could find the net again, and the match ended 1-0 in favor of the Ghanaian champions.
FC Samartex will now look to complete the job when they host Victoria United in the return leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, August 25.
