Seeking to spark a phenomenal turnaround against ASR Bamako, Hearts of Oak will host the Malian giants for the second leg of their CAF Confederations Cup preliminary round return leg on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium.
This fixture promises to be one of the most interesting fixtures in the preliminary round as the Phobians hope to overturn their defeat in the first leg held in Mali.
The Phobians head to the game after being sunk 3-0 in the first leg at Stade du Bamako.
The Scorpions have one foot firmly in the next stage of this year’s competition following their 3-0 triumph
Hearts seem to have rediscovered their golden performance in their test matches. They have already shown that they can breach this Bamako backline and advance.
They are also hopeful to progress with the home support as they seek to repeat the 2006 record when they stunned St. Georges of Ethiopia in Obuasi.
The visitors are making their 4th appearance in the competition whose inaugural edition had two Ghanaian clubs – Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak playing in the grand finale in Accra and Kumasi.
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Ahead of the game, Hearts manager David Ocloo has named a 20-man squad including two goalkeepers Richard Attah and Richmond Ayi.
The gaffer has dropped the first-choice goalie Ofori Antwi, Daniel Kordie, and also Cameronian International Yassan Haaland Ouatching due to an injury situation. David Ocloo also did not invite Zakaria Yakubu to the squad. But the coach has replaced him with Salifu Ibrahim and Isaac Mensah.
However, the presence of Afriyie Barnieh, Awako, Inkoom, Mohammed Alhassan and others gives the ex-Porcupines deputy coach the hope of turning things around.
He is highly optimistic that the Phobians will make a mark on Sunday with the support from their able despite describing them as the good side.
“With our fans behind us, I don’t think they can contain us. We are working on that today’s match is proof of what we have been doing for some time now. You can see the defence was solid they were confident possessing, starting the attack and everything very well. I don’t think we have any injuries at the moment. Salifu is a brilliant player so he will get involved,” Hearts coach Ocloo told Peace FM.
“They are a good side but they are beatable. That’s all I can say about Bamako team and with our fans behind us I don’t think they can contain us,” he stated after their game against GAP Soccer Academy on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Bamako coach Nouhoum Diane also insists his team will enter tomorrow’s game as a final
“The return leg should be treated as a final that will be played in any venue CAF will confirm. We don’t know how things will go in Ghana but the objective is to qualify. It’s a good team they have quality players. They played well but we won. I am convinced that the supporters will be there we need their support too,” he told the leading sports portal in Ghana {Ghanasportspage.com} /
The 57-year-old Malian disclosed to Head coach Nouhoum Diane has insisted his team will treat the reverse fixture on Sunday as a final game as they seek to secure a spot in the play-off stage.
GAME DETAILS
VENUE: ACCRA SPORTS STADIUM
KICK-OFF TIME: 3:00 PM
CHANNEL TO WATCH IT: GTV SPORTS PLUS (GHANA) AND OUR WEBSITE
Hearts of Oak possible line-up
Richmond Ayi
Samuel Inkoom
Dennis Korsah
Konadu Yiadom
Mohammed Alhassan (C)
Caleb Amankwah
Gladson Awako
Salifu Ibrahim
Suraj Seidu
Junior Kaaba
Daniel Afriyie Barnieh
