The 2021/2022 CCL will be the 58th edition of the illustrious African Club competition. Champions of the competition in the year 2000 will play against the two times Winners (1992, 2017) from Casablanca, Morocco.
Venue: Accra Sports Stadium
Location: Accra, Ghana
H2H
The two teams have never played each other in the CAF Champions League
Referee – Martins Rodrigues De Carvalho (Angola)
Assistant 1 – Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)
Assistant 2 – Ivanildo Mereilles de O Sanches Lopes (Angola)
Fourth Official – Antonio Caluassi Dungula (Angola)
Form guide
Hearts of Oak last played a competitive fixture on 19th September against Kamsar of Guinea in the semi finals of the qualifiers and won 2-0 thanks to two late goals from Kofi Kordzi and Salim Adams.
Since the 2021/2022 Ghanaian Premier league is yet to be kicked off,they have then played many friendly matches to be fit and sharp ahead of the game.
Wydad are the defending Champions of the Botola Pro and are sitting on top of the league log after five games.They have won four games and drew one. They have scored eight goals and conceded two.
Managers
Samuel Boadu who has been a beacon for Hearts of Oak since he joined them from Medeama S.C seven months ago won double for Hearts. The rookie coach is probably the best young manager in the county. This terrain is very new for him.
Walid Regragui replaced the much experienced Faouzi Benzarti after he led Wydad Athletic Club to last season’s Semi finals of the CCL and the Botola Pro title.Regragui,former Moroccan International joined Wydad Athletic Club from Al-Duhail Sports Club in Qatar.
Players to watch
The Hearts of Oak players are very new to this competition. Youngsters like Salifu Ibrahim (21), Afriyie Barnie (20), Raddy Ovouka (21), and Enock Asubonteng (20) are all exceptional talents.
Experienced players like Robert Addo Sowah, Mohammed Alhassan, Patrick Razak, Kofi Kordzi and Emmanuel Nettey will be around.
Wydad Athletic Club Moroccan International striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored scored 18 goals and won the top scorer award last season in the BotolaPro.
He has joined Turkish club Hatayspor.Attacking midfielder Walid El Karti has joined Pyramids.They will surely miss them this season.
They still have some quality players like Zouheir El Moutaraji, Guy Mbenza(on loan from Royal Antwerp), Simon Msuva, Reda Jaadi, Muaid Ellafi, Ayoub El Amroud and Aymane El Hassouni
Predicted lineup
Hearts…4 -5-1
GK – Richard Attah
Defence – Fataw Mohammed,Robert Addo Sowah,Mohammed Alhassan,Raddy Ovouka Hokemba
Midfield – Frederick Ansah Botwe,Emmanuel Nettey,Caleb Amankwah, Salifu Ibrahim, Afriyie Barnie,
Forward Kofi Kordzi..
WYDAD Athletic Club
GK – Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
Defence – Yahia attiyat Allah,Ayoub Benchaoui,Cheick Comora, Achraf Dari
Midfield – Jabrane, Reda Jaadi, El Hassouni, Ayoub El Amroud, El Moutaraji,
Forward – Simon Msuva
Predictions
Hearts of Oak 2- 1 Wydad Athletic Club
by: Oliver Amakye Ansah
