After recording a 2-0 win at the Accra Sports Stadium, Ghana Premier League champions, Accra Hearts of Oak gained a first-leg advantage in the CAF Confederations Cup play-off game against JS Saoura.

Ibrahim Salifu and substitute Isaac Agyenim Boateng were on the scoresheet for the Rainbow club in each half of the game to give the team the needed momentum after a poor start to the season.

Samuel Boadu named a strong starting lineup for Sunday’s game with Frederick Ansah Botchway, Salim Adams and Isaac Mensah all receiving starting berths in the game.

Hearts started the game as they meant to go on, and they were unfortunate to see Kofi Kordzi’s strike from within the six-yard box go over the crossbar for the first clear cut chance of the game.

However, the Phobians were rewarded for their impressive start to the game, when Daniel Afriyie-Barnieh teed up Salifu in the 17th minute to break the deadlock and give the home side the deserving lead.

Hearts created quite a number of chances in the opening 45 minutes but could only manage a goal as the opportunities went begging heading into the break.

After the recess, Hearts continued to press for their second of the game as their Algerian counterparts looked content with just a goal conceded with no clear intentions to attack the Phobians.

Goalscorer, Salifu Ibrahim had to be substituted just five minutes into the second period of the game with what seemed like a muscle injury for the Hearts talisman, with Agyenim Boateng taking his place.

Afriyie-Barnieh, who had a good afternoon should have doubled Hearts’ lead after 53 minutes but his header from a Fatawu Mohammed cross could only go into the side net of goalkeeper, Zakria Saidi’s post.

Agyenim Boateng then finished things off for Boadu’s side in the 73rd minute as he tapped into the net after the net after a cut back from left-back, William Denkyi. His goal made it 2-0 for the reigning Ghana Premier League champions.

The Saoura keeper, Saidi, was sent off with 15 minutes to go for a foul on Barnieh after failing to get to the ball before the Hearts forward. But the home team could do very little to add to their two-goal advantage as a referee, Abdel Hussein blew his whistle for full time.

Hearts will go into the second leg with a two-goal advantage and hope not to repeat the same mistakes they did against Wydad Athletic Club in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

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Former Great Olympics captain Gladson Awako, has opened up on the reason why he hasn’t made his Hearts of Oak debut yet.

The 30-year-old signed for the reigning champions in August this year for a fee of GH₵100,000 in a two-year deal but left the team’s camp after three weeks.

Local reports claimed that the players’ act was due to spiritual problems he encountered signing his two-year deal with the Phobians.

However, the U-20 World Cup winner resumed training on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, joining his teammates in camp ahead of their CAF Confederations Cup match against Saoura FC.

In an interview on TV3’s GPL express, Awako disclosed what accounted for his absence.

Ghanaian football legend, Asamoah Gyan, has eulogized Felix Afena-Gyan, suggesting the young footballer is a big prospect for the Black Stars.

The 18-year-old turned down a chance to feature for the Black Stars in the final round of games of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia and South Africa earlier this month.

He has, however, dominated the international and local media following his audacious two goals for AS Roma against Genoa last weekend in the Serie A.

However, Gyan, who has scored a record 51 goals for Ghana, said the youngster has the qualities to lead the Black Stars attack in the future and has advised that he is not rushed into the team.

“He is a very good player,” Gyan admitted in an interview with Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“I have watched all the games he has played for Roma and I think he is the future for the Black Stars but we must admit that he is young and we must not rush him.

“Let us allow him to join the team at the right time. He has been impressive but rushing him into the Black Stars will not be helpful.

“I think he not joining the Black Stars was not based on bad intention because I think he wants to develop himself and stay focused as well but I believe he will surely join the team at the right time with proper integration,” he added.

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Source: GhArticles.com