Medeama midfielder Michael Helegbe says he is struggling to come to terms with their failure to reach the Group stage of the Confederation Cup.

The debutants won 2-0 in regulation time against Congolese side AC Leopards but were eliminated 5-4 on penalties after both were tied two-all on aggregate.

Helegbe missed a penalty during open play but says he and his teammates did enough to progress.

“First, my thoughts are with the fans and Ghanaians at large. It’s really a painful experience,” Helegbe told GHANASoccernet.com.

“We had all opportunities to make it but in football you can never predict. On another day we could have been in the Group stage.

“It is so bad but we will rise stronger because in football there is always another opportunity to make up.

“Management has been splendid and we the players gave our all to make up for them but it was just not to be,” he said.