By El Akyereko Frimpong
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial
There was little action for Ghanaian players in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday night as the competition's third round qualifying ties opened.Â
Samuel Afum played a cameo role for Swiss Super League side Young Boys Bern as they lost before home fans but Michael Essien and Francis Dickoh watched their clubs from the stands at their respective venues.
There were three games involving Ghanaian players but only one could afford a smile at the blast of the final whistle.
Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Michael Essien watched from the stands at the Stadio Apóstolos Nikolaidis in Athens as his Panathinaikos side claimed a 2-1 victory Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge.
Panathinaikos ended the tie with ten men after Spanish center-back Sergio Sánchez was sent off in the 43rd minute.
Elsewhere in Switzerland, former Hearts of Oak attacker Samuel Afum was introduced in the 78th minute as his Young Boys Bern side slipped to a 3-1 home loss against visiting French Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco.
In Denmark former Black Stars regular defender Francis Dickoh could not make the FC Midtjylland squad when their 2-1 loss against against Cypriot side Apoel Nicosia.
There will be more Ghanaian players on Wednesday as defender Gideon Baah, striker Patrick Twumasi, midfielder Sulley Muniru, Enock Adu Kofi and Aziz Tetteh are all expected to be in action. There is also a place in the Red Bulls Salzburg squad for starlet David Atanga while Ajax Amsterdam have Kenny Tete registered for their game.