Wydad Athletic suffer MAJOR injury concerns as five stars miss ahead of Caf Champions League game against Hearts of Oak
It an episode of two opposing outcomes of Wydad Athletic Club major injury worries ahead of their travel to face Ghana Premier League champions Hearts of Oak in Ghana’s capital.
While WAC, are hampered by those injuries, the news with five key stars missing the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium comes as a major boost for Hearts of Oak who make their first Caf Champions League campaign since 2008.
Wydad already lead the Moroccan Botola league table with 13 points amid defending their domestic title from last season, and while looking forward to make a huge impact in Africa comes with a big blow prior to kick off of their first game in the Champions League.
Wydad were seeded to avoid the preliminary stage of the competition with the rivals Hearts of Oak beating Guinea outfit Club Indusriel Kamsar in the round.
The Moroccan side touched down in Accra Friday night ahead of Hearts game but not including stars Reda Jaadi, Théophile Tsomo, Gaye Mpenza, Salahuddin Benisho and Jalal Daoudi who are battling with injuries.
WAC medical department have ruled out the players in Sunday’s clash with the Moroccan side facing the test to manage the situation to get good results into the second league.
A report in GHANAsoccernet claims that WAC man Salahuddin Benisho has underwent surgery in recent times while midfielder Reda Jaadi is out for six weeks due to a severe ankle injury.
The report also claims that Tsomo, on loan from Royal Antwerp Mpenza and Daoudi have been hit with injuries and their absence depletes the North African’s squad.
Apart from injuries that have caused weak squad for WAC ahead of this game, their summer transfer activities may have also caused damage.
The Moroccan outfit cashed in on two of their top most players after selling forward Ayoub El Kaabi to Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor in August just 2 years after joining WAC and Walid El Karti to Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids Football Club.
El Kaabi signed 2-year deal in Turkey that will end in June 2023. He netted 9 times in 15 league games in his loan spell in 2019-2020 before scoring 24 goals in 40 league games last season.
With such lost experience Hearts of Oak start the game as favorites especially at their own backyard tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Hearts legend Adja Tetteh has already shown what his former side need to do to beat Wydad Casablanca.
“Hearts of Oak’s department is working, from the regular players and those on the bench. Against Kamsar, Hearts played as if they are a team always playing in the Champions League”
“If they listen to the coaches instruction they can qualify here in Ghana”, he told Happy FM.
“The North African teams no how to play in the CAF Champions League. They plan and always try to reach the money zone because it is very lucrative. So they will try and score in the opening minutes. They only need one goal. The players should play to the coaches instruction and take their chances”, he added.
Former Black Stars goalkeeper Abubakari Damba lifts Hearts against WAC
In the phase of those many advises given to Hearts ahead of the game, former Ghana international Abubakari Damba has advised Hearts of Oak players to be confident and not be overawed by the occasion when they face Wydad Athletic Club on Sunday.
Ahead of the game on Sunday, the former Black Stars goalkeeper stated Hearts can beat WAC if they play their own game and are confident.
“We know WAC and the quality, the history they possess”, he said in an interview on Happy FM.
“Hearts of Oak have been impressive in the league. They are playing good football and getting results, the team is intact and players are at their peak.
“The only thing is that they have to maintain discipline. Because it’s being a while they played in this competition. They have to tread cautiously but then open up and play their own football.
“They shouldn’t be intimidated that WAC has the experience in the Champions League, and has quality. Hearts must show that they are The Phobians. They need to play and be confident”, he added.
