Assessing how far Hearts of Oak can reach in Caf Confederation Cup
Hearts of Oak will be heading to the Caf Confederation Cup a second time in a row following their triumph in this season’s MTN FA Cup, beating Bechem United in Kumasi.
The Caf competition starts early September as the Ghanaian side probe to know their preliminary opponents ahead of September’s first game.
Like in last year’s campaign, Hearts of Oak are expected to be handed low key fixture in the prelims. Hearts edged out Guinean side Club Industriel Kamsar in Prelims before they were crushed out by Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in the first round of the Caf Champions League.
Arguably, Hearts of Oak were the best side in last two season’s Ghana Premier League and continue to maintain that status last term despite Asante Kotoko winning the ultimate in May.
A core of the team remains with only Emmanuel Nettey, Raddy Ovuoka and Benjamin Afutu having left the setup at the end of two seasons. Hearts strengthened with the signing of Enock Asoubonteng, Dennis Korsah, James Serwonu, Salim Adams, Sulley Muntari and Samuel Inkoom last season.
Hearts of Oak are tipped to go beyond the first phase of the Caf Confederation Cup, but the type of opponents they may face will be very essential with a trip to a non-North African side very key.
Ghanaian clubs have struggled in the hands of North African sides in continental football for two decades now. Hearts of Oak last entered into the group stages of Caf competition in 2006 where they played in the Champions League money zone.
After 16 years failure of reaching the group stage, the former Ghanaian champions have vowed to beat that record with signing reinforcements. Hearts have signed Cameroonian International Junior Kaaba and bound to add a further.
Drawing on their last term’s experience and signings, Hearts of Oak will enter into the money zone of the Caf Confederation Cup. Despite exiting Africa in early stages, they remained one of the compact and sexy-on-the-ball side.
Their team development has improved this season and can beat clubs into the group stages. Perhaps, Ghanaian pundits are primarily looking into a scenario of Hearts qualifying into the quarter-finals of the African Confederation Cup.
