Hearts, AshantiGold seek qualification

Hearts of Oak and AshantiGold playing at home will attempt qualification to the next round stage of the CAF Champions League when the second leg matches of the lucrative competition are played this weekend.

Both Ghanaian clubs are faced with the huge responsibility of overturning defeats in the first leg knockout round matches played away in Gabon and Niger.

Accra Hearts of Oak are caught up in a rather difficult situation and the Phobians could be heading for another early exit from the CAF Champions League unless they score three goals past FC 105 of Gabon at the Ohene Djan Stadium to tie the game after losing 0-3 in the first leg match.

A difficult run in the domestic league has seen the Phobians trail the leaders by 16 points with only three points separating them from the bottom placed side. And all this sums up some bad run of results recorded by the club who are yet to show signs of being domestic champions and continental winners again since their first success in 2000.

However, the club is hopeful of overcoming difficulties in their recent history as they remain optimistic of their chances against the team from Gabon.

New coach Eyal Lachman, who would be starting his Hearts career in such difficult times has played down the expectation of the fans for Sunday.

“I don’t want to comment too much on Sunday’s game because I have just taken over this team. But I can say with all confidence that if we continue the way we have started, we will make some progress.”

Qualification for the Phobians would revive their hopes for the challenges ahead.

Unlike Hearts of Oak, AshantiGold, another Ghanaian side in the competition also playing at home tomorrow at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi will need to win against Sahel FC from Niger.

The Miners went down by a 1-0 in Niamey but are the favourites to qualify to the next stage of the Champions League.

Lying fourth on the domestic league table, David Duncan’s team last weekend produced a four-star win in the OneTouch Premier League and would be in to replicate that form and guard against their opponents scoring.

Sahel FC, coached by Ghana’s Abdul Karim Zito remains confident they can qualify for the next round of the CAF Champions League.

“When we won the first leg, it was as if we had already reached the next stage. That is how much it meant to them. AshantiGold is a very strong side but we have a good team too. We have not come here to sit back and defend a 1-0 win. We have come to try to win,” Karim Zito said ahead of the game.