Medeama head coach Ibrahim Tanko has expressed his disappointment following his side’s home defeat to TP Mazembe, admitting that the team’s inability to convert its chances played a major role in the outcome of the game.
Tanko believes Medeama created enough opportunities to score and possibly secure a positive result, but poor finishing prevented the Ghanaian side from making their dominance count.
The defeat was particularly frustrating for the coach because it came on home soil, where Medeama would have hoped to take advantage of their home support and secure an important result before the return encounter.
Speaking after the match, Tanko acknowledged that losing at home naturally comes with disappointment, but he also pointed to the number of chances Medeama created during the game.
“Of course, if you lose a home game, definitely you’ll be disappointed. And the good thing is, we created a lot of chances, and we could have scored some goals, but unfortunately, we couldn’t, and that’s football.”
The coach indicated that Medeama had opportunities that could have changed the complexion of the game, but the players failed to find the decisive finish when it mattered most.
Tanko also explained that his side increased its attacking efforts in the second half as the team searched for an equaliser. Medeama pushed forward in an attempt to put TP Mazembe under greater pressure, but the visitors managed to take advantage of one of their opportunities.
According to Tanko, TP Mazembe were able to punish Medeama with one clear opportunity, highlighting the fine margins that often determine matches at the continental level.
“And we pushed in the second half, trying to get our goal when they got one chance to score. So definitely, I’m disappointed. But I mean, that’s the game; we have a second chance next Sunday to see what will happen.”
Despite the setback, Tanko remains hopeful that Medeama can respond in the next meeting between the two sides.
The defeat means Medeama will have to produce a stronger performance in the return encounter, particularly in front of goal, if they are to overturn the disadvantage.
Tanko’s comments suggest that the technical team will be looking closely at the missed opportunities from the first game while preparing the players for the next challenge. The coach will also be hoping that his attackers can be more clinical when similar chances come their way.
For Medeama, the result will be viewed as a missed opportunity, especially considering the number of chances created. However, Tanko believes the tie still offers his team another opportunity to make amends.
The Medeama boss is therefore calling on his players to remain focused, learn from the mistakes made in the first encounter and approach the next game with confidence and determination.
While he admitted his disappointment at losing at home, Tanko’s attention is now firmly on the return fixture, where Medeama will look to produce a response and give themselves a chance of progressing.
The coach’s message is clear: the missed chances must serve as a lesson, but the team cannot afford to allow the defeat to affect its belief ahead of the next encounter.
