Hearts of Oak announce 24-man squad for trip to JS Saoura as Gladso Awako replaces Salifu Ibrahim
Accra Hearts of Oak have announced a 24-man squad list for their CAF Confederation Cup playoff second game against Algerian side JS Saoura this weekend.
The Phobians will be making a long trip to Algeria to battle out with JS Saoura in return fixture after claiming 2-0 win in the first leg in Accra.
Thanks to strikes from Salifu Ibrahim and Agyenim Boateng in each half handed the Ghanaian side a huge advantage. Hearts could have scored more than two goals if they had taken their chances. The game’s results didn’t put Samuel Boadu in a happy mood after questioning his side’s efficiency in the JS Saoura victory.
The away side could have also narrowed the scoreline had they been vital in front of goal but with the chances that came their way were wasted, they left Ghana with 2-0 loss. They have vowed to overturn the scoreline in return fixture in Algeria on Sunday.
But Hearts could be salvaged after experienced attacking midfielder Gladson Awako included in the traveling squad as replacement for Ibrahim Salifu who has been ruled of the fixture due to injury.
Ibrahim put Hearts ahead after 16’ minutes heading home from close range following Afriyie Barnieh’s cross. The Ghana champions are expected to depart for Algeria on Wednesday with the likes of captain Fatawu Mohammed, Mohammed Alhassan, Emmanuel Nettey, Ansha Botchway, Kofi Kordzi and Isaac Mensah included in the list.
There appears a boost for Hearts after Gladson Awako joining his teammates for the trip to Algeria. The former TP Mazembe midfielder has been sidelined since completing his transfer from Olympics in summer.
Initial explanation was owed to spiritual reasons especially from the player’s camp. However, Awako in his recent interview with Ghanaian TV station TV3 recalled that he was sidelined due to health related problems.
Hearts are expected to hold onto their lead and make progression into the group stages of this season’s Caf Confederation Cup. Should they end up qualifying, it’s their first group stage football continental campaign since 2006.
In their last attempt in Caf inter club football, Hearts failed to score in any of their six Caf Champions League games against Enyimba, Orlando Pirates and ASEC Mimosas. They conceded 7 goals in return with Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas and South African giants Orlando Pirates progressing to the next round.
Hearts can trade on records of Asante Kotoko in Algerian soil in recent Caf club games with the Reds avoiding defeat in their last three visits to the Green Land in Northern Africa.
Kotoko have drawn goalless with JSM Bejaia in 2013 Caf Champions League, El Eulma in 2015 Champions League and ES Setif in 2021 Caf Confederation Cup play-off.
Despite the good away record, Kotoko failed to qualify ahead of their Algerian counter-parts with the last two in particular winning in Kotoko’s home group while Bejaia run away with 1-1 draw at Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Hearts of Oak have scored just once in away games which came in their 6-1 thrashing by Wydad Casablanca in Champions League first round. With that coming against a North Africa side, away to JS Saoura may prove a challenging task against another North African side.
But their commanding 2-0 victory in Accra should be enough to send them through to the Confederation Cup group stages.
Squad details below
Goalkeepers: Richard Attah, Richard Baidoo, Richmond Ayi
Defenders: Mohammed Alhassan, Robert Addo Sowah, Nuru Sulley, James Serwornu, Raddy Ovouka, William Dankyi, Fatawu Mohammed, Larry Sumaila, Caleb Amankwah
Midfielders: Salim Adams, Frederick Ansah Botchway, Emmanuel Nettey, Gladson Awako, Isaac Agyenim Boateng, Suraj Seidu
Attackers: Enock Asubonteng, Isaac Mensah, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Patrick Razak, Kofi Kordzi, Victor Aidoo
