Young Africans crashed and burned again after going down 3-1 to Medeama SC in a CAF Confederation Cup, Group A match at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium on Tuesday night.

The loss is Young Africans’ third loss in four games in Group A, their only point coming in 1-1 draw to Medeama SC a fortnight ago – the Tanzanian side are bottom of the group standings.

The win for Medeama SC is their first in Group A and sees them up to second in the standings with five points from four games.

MO Bejaia are also on five points, but from three games while TP Mazembe occupy top spot in Group A with seven points from three games.

TP Mazembe will host MO Bejaia on Wednesday night in the other Group A match of round four.

It was a poor start to the game for visiting Tanzanian side after Medeama SC took the lead in the seventh minute following a goal from Daniel Amoah, 1-0.

Things went from bad to worse for Young Africans who went two goals behind in the 22nd minute after a goal from Mohammed Abass gave the home side a 2-0 lead.

Young Africans did manage to hit back three minutes later courtesy of a penalty goal from Simon Msuva, 2-1.

The home side took control of the game after that and took a two goal lead into the break after a 37th minute strike from Mohammed Abass, his second of the game, 3-1.

Young Africans tried to find their way back into the game, but the home side stood firm in defence and held for the win in what was a rather dull second half.

The win is vital for Medeama SC and will give them renewed hope of qualifying for the semifinals of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Medeama SC are next in action at home against TP Mazembe on August 14 while Young Africans will host MO Bejaia on August 13.

Medeama SC (3) 3 (Amoah 7’, Abass 22’ + 37’)
Young Africans (1) 1 (Msuva 25’pen)

It is make or break time for Medeama SC and Young Africans in the 2016 Caf Confederations Cup, with both teams desperate for all three points as they gear themselves up for battle on Tuesday evening.

Both teams know all too well that defeat could all but end their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the continental competition; neither side managed a win in their opening three fixtures.

Medeama are in a slightly better position heading into the clash in Sekondi-Takoradi. The Ghanaian cup winners accumulated two points from their allotted fixtures thus far; a 3-1 defeat to Mazembe was followed by a 0-0 draw at home to MO Béjaïa and a 1-1 stalemate in Dar es Salaam.

Both teams were woeful in front of goal in the reverse fixture in Tanzania, but Medeama goal-minder Daniel Agyei remains upbeat about his side's chances and has urged his teammates to put in an improved performance.

"We will not make the same mistakes again," Agyei to the Ghanaian media.

"This is a crucial match for us and there has been a major emphasis on scoring in our preparations. We must win to keep alive hopes of reaching the knockout stages."

With a single point from three matches, Yanga are on the brink of elimination and will need nothing but a full compliment of points in West Africa to reignite their chances.

"When we play away, we play with little pressure; it is different from home games where we play under intensive pressure and sometimes fail to deliver to our standards," Yanga head coach Hans van der Pluijm is quoted as saying.

"We had wished to win the last two games to put us in a good chance to qualify but we could not do it. I cannot say our hopes have vanished. No! We still have chance. We have to win in Ghana to revive our hopes.

Having only scored once in their opening three matches - against Medeama last time out - Van der Pluijm has urged his attackers to up their game.

"Strikers win matches and one goal from three matches is unacceptable," the Dutch-born coach added.

"Our situation is precarious, but we cannot lose hope. Anything is possible in football and beating Medeama could close the gap behind Bejaia to a single point."

The match is scheduled to be staged at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium. Kick-off is at 17h00 CAT.