Medeama SC manager Nebojsa Kapor is tasked with the challenging responsibility of leading the Ghanaian champions against the current African champions, Ah Ahly SC in a matchday five CAF Champions League fixture at the Baba Yara Sports stadium, Kumasi on Saturday.
The Tarkwa-based was on the brink of elimination, but Al Ahly’s 0-0 stalemate with CR Belouizdad last week ensured that Medeama will retain their status in the tournament. However, they will need to perform exceptionally well against the Red Devils on Saturday.
The Egyptian giants remain undefeated in their last four matches in the competition, securing one victory (their previous win against Medeama) and three draws. They currently sit atop the Group D table with six points.
Medeama, on the other hand, is placed at the bottom of the table with four points. They have recorded one win, endured two defeats, and played to a draw.
Winning the game will be massive for Medeama to get up early on, putting nerves to bed and easing some pressure off Kapor’s shoulders after some recent torrid displays from a team winless in their last two games.
Here are four key strategies Kapor can adopt to upset Al-Ahly.
Cut out individual errors
Let's start with the obvious – Medeama must cut out the individual errors that have plagued their season. Playing out from the back is fine but only when you're sure the pass will reach its intended destination. Putting players in tricky positions facing their own goal has often led to the Mauves and Yellow being dispossessed in key areas. While it's been a feature of the team's playing style under Agustine Adotey, the players haven't mastered it just yet and the day is way too important to take unnecessary risks.
Throughout this season, Marcel Koller’s team has often struggled to navigate their way out from the back when confronted with an aggressive press, despite boasting a highly resilient defence. Following the departure of Johnathan Sowah, Daniel Lomotey is poised to step in, offering the Ghanaian club a solution to this challenge.
With Lomotey leading the attack, Medeama's press becomes notably more effective, increasing the likelihood of exposing a vulnerability within Ahly's defence. His adeptness at holding the ball and involving his teammates surpasses that of Johnathan Sowah.
The Importance of Jean Vital Ourega
Regarding Saturday’s opponents, Ourega will be vital to helping Kapor’s side break through Ahly during attacking transitions. The Ivorian midfielder is unbelievably quick for a central midfield player, which is one of the reasons why he is shoehorned out to the attack when Medeam are in dire need of a goal.
On top of this, he is explosive on the ball and is able to burst through pressure from onrushing midfielders and defenders, beating them with his underrated dribbling. For the most part, Ourega’s dribbling won’t be overly helpful for Kapor’s Medeama in this match due to Ahly being likely to sit back and soak up pressure.
However, there will be times when the visitors are forced to come out and be a little more expansive with their play. When these moments occur, Ourega will be vital for hitting the North Africans on the break. Being on the backfoot against a counterattack is one area where Ahly have really struggled under Koller.
The manager is keen for his side to counterpress upon losing possession, bunching together to regain the ball and stopping the opposition’s counter as far up the pitch as possible. Unfortunately, this has left the side exploitable at times once the initial counterpress is broken.
Counterpressing is when a team hunts down the ball in packs in a structured manner as soon as possession is turned over to the hands of the opposition. Plenty of sides in the modern game counterpress. The likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola revolutionised the football over the last decade by integrating fascinating methods of this into their tactics.
The key factor for this to be a success is having energy in the midfield. But Koller’s midfield does not have the energy to sustain this momentum throughout the game. Counterpressing will be more difficult due to this. This is where Ourega can tear them to shreds, using his explosive speed and dribbling to bypass midfield pressure and beating the counterpress to leave the defensive line vulnerable.
