Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak secured a 1-0 win over Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club in the first-leg tie of the second round of the preliminary stage of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League.
Isaac Mensah dived to connected home a Salifu Ibrahim cross in the later stages of the first half.
It was a game Hearts of Oak created a host of chances but were undone by poor and one-sided officiating from Moroccan officials.
Wydad went into the game without head coach Walid Regragui couldn’t sit on the bench after testing positive for COVID-19.
Wydad started with early pressure and nearly registered the opening goal but a connection from inside the area deflected off the near post.
Hearts of Oak responded immediately with Frederick Ansah Botchway breaking free through the middle but he couldn’t maintain his composure as he was robbed off the ball.
Richard Attah had to be at his best to keep out a Zouheir El Moutaraji effort from just outside the area.
Ivorian Chiek Kumara tripped Daniel Afriyie Barnieh after the 20-year-old beat him to speed. The resultant free-kick was wasted.
Raddy Ovouka had to be substituted early after he sustained an injury. He was replaced by William Dankyi.
Hearts’ first shot on target came in the 36th minute when Kordzi played through Afriyie Barnieh who escaped a hard challenge from the Wydad goalkeeper with the ball falling to the feet of Salifu Ibrahim whose well-taken effort was acrobatically palmed out for a corner.
Moments later Salifu laid a sweet pass to Kordzi and the No.9 fired just wide.
Hearts continued to pile the pressure and the opening goal duly arrived. It was a beautiful build-up between Salifu and Ansah Botchway. Salifu weighed in a beautiful cross in search of his marker and indeed Isaac Mensah marked his space well as he dived to connect the ball, leaving the visitors’ keeper rooted to his spot.
Kofi Kordzi fired a shot at goal on 59 minutes but his effort was parried for a corner by the Wydad goalkeeper. Kordzi also laid an inviting ball into space for Salifu who skied the ball.
Boadu rang changes as the second half wore on. Isaac Mensah and Frederick Ansah Botchway were replaced by Enock Asubonteng and Salim Adams respectively as Hearts continued to press for the insurance goal.
Afriyie Barnieh was surprisingly flagged offside twice when he was clearly onside per television replays. Angolan referee Helder Martins Rodrigues De Carvalho and his assistants appeared to have come to Ghana with their agenda to favour the Moroccans as they perpetually took decisions in their favour.
Wydad managed to get the ball into the net but their striker had been flagged offside.
Later on, Victor Aidoo and Isaac Agyenim Boateng came off the bench to get a taste of the game.
