CAF CL: Hearts of Oak face stern test Wydad Athletic Club test- Preview

Accra Hearts of Oak will lock horns with Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca in the second round of the CAF champions League group stage qualifiers.

The Ghana Premier League champions will look to capitalize on their home advantage when they host Wydad at the Accra Sports Stadium in the first of a two legged affair on Sunday.

The mouthwatering encounter is scheduled for 3pm kick off.

The Phobians progressed to this stage after breezing past C.I Kasmar from Guinea 2-0 in a one-off encounter in Accra last month while the 2020/21 CAF Champions League semi-finalist waved a bye in the preliminary round.

Hearts of Oak will be aiming to secure passage to the lucrative group stage of the competition for the first time since 2006.

Meanwhile Wydad AC who are the most successful club side in Morocco would be looking to make the group stages for the seventh successive time.

Team News:

Both teams will be missing some key players for today’s match.

Hearts of Oak must cope without Kojo Obeng Jr (injury), Gladson Awako (Personal) and Emmanuel Nettey (injury).

Elsewhere in the camp of the Moroccan Botola Pro League side, head coach Walid Regragui has tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be able to sit on the bench in the game.

The Red Castle will be without seven first-team players. Defender Sheikh Kumara could start the match despite suffering a broken nose.

How both teams could line up:

Hearts XI: Richard Atta, Fatawu Mohammed, William Dankyi, Mohammed Alhassan, Robert Addo Sowah, Frederick Ansah, Salifu Ibrahim, Isaac Mensah, Salim Adama, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Kofi Kordzi.

Wydad XI: Tagnaouti, El Amloud, Dari, Comara, Yahia Atti, Jabrane, Ellafi, El Hassouni, Serrhat, El Moutaraji, Msuva.

Match Officials 
Referee: Martins Rodrigues De Carvalho (Angola)

Assistant 1: Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)

Assistant 2: Ivanildo Mereilles de O Sanches Lopes (Angola)

Fourth Official: Antonio Caluassi Dungula (Angola)