Nations FC have been eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 with FC Diarra in the second leg of their preliminary-round tie at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Ghanaian side entered the decisive encounter needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in Mali.
Nations FC dominated possession for long periods and created several opportunities as they searched for the goals needed to keep their continental campaign alive.
However, it was FC Diarra who struck first, putting the visitors in a stronger position and increasing the pressure on the MTN FA Cup holders.
Nations eventually found an equaliser and continued pushing forward in search of the winning goal that would have taken the tie in their favour.
Despite their efforts, the Ghanaian side could not find the crucial second goal before the final whistle.
The 1-1 draw meant FC Diarra advanced to the next round with a 2-1 aggregate victory, bringing Nations FC’s first appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup to an early end.
The elimination also leaves Ghana without a club in either of CAF’s two major inter-club competitions.
Medeama had earlier suffered elimination from the CAF Champions League after losing 4-1 on aggregate to TP Mazembe.
With both Ghanaian representatives now out before the group stage, the country’s clubs have once again failed to make significant progress in continental competition.
The early exits will raise further questions about the competitiveness and preparedness of Ghanaian clubs on the African stage.
