Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited has rendered an apology to its fans across the world for the club’s inability to qualify for the group stages of the 2021/22 CAF Champions League competition.
The club accepted defeat, saying, it was capable for a much better performance than its abysmal display in Morocco last night. The club therefore, appealed to its supporters to continue to support its activities in the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.
“We apologize to our fans for not making the ultimate dream come true but we believe this is the time that the team needs you most to accomplish the tasks ahead. The CAF Champions League competition is a project we want to gradually make an impact on again after a very long absence.
“Therefore, we would like to remind our supporters to stay united as we have another qualification match for the group stages of the Confederation Cup, and as we kick off the campaign to defend our Ghana premier League Title”.
Hearts of Oak
Ghanaian Giants, Hearts of Oak, were humiliated by Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in the final preliminary round of the CAF Champions League in an empty Mohamed V Stadium on Sunday, October 24, 2021.
The Phobians came into the second leg full of optimism after beating Wydad 1-0 in Accra but succumbed to a 6-1 defeat, the club’s heaviest defeat in CAF inter club competitions. A result that emphasized the vast abyss between the sides.
After the club’s ‘demolition’ last night, the management released a statement to apologize to its fans who were very heartbreaking after the disgraceful defeat to the Moroccan giants.
Hearts capable of a much better performance
The statement signed by Hearts Communications on Monday, October 25, 2021 stated that “We succumbed to a painful defeat in Morocco because we were nowhere close to our best on the night. We know that we are capable for a much better performance than what we showed in morocco”.
The current GPL Title holders highlighted that “it was a great learning experience for our young playing and technical team, majority of whom were experiencing their very first taste of continental football away from home, and against a very strong side like Wydad Athletic Club”.
Hearts of Oak is however, hopeful that it would build on the lessons learnt from the shambolic performance of the team in the champions league to make amends in the CAF Confederation Cup.
“We have a chance to make amends in the Confederation Cup and this important lesson we have picked up in Morocco will inspire us to rise above the current disappointment, as we take inspiration from the motto of our club, ‘Never Say Die Until the Bones Are Rotten’. We are Hearts of Oak! We will live to fight another day to make the Phobia family proud”.
Hearts of Oak
Dejected Samuel Boadu
Simon Msuva was Hearts’ main tormentor as the Tanzanian forward scored a brace to take his tally to three for the season. Coach Samuel Boadu cut a dejected figure as he, and his players, looked demoralized after conceding three goals in the first 20 minutes.
The defense of the team was completely absent on the day, leaving goalkeeper Richard Atta all to his fate. Richard Atta made some brilliant saves that avoidable a much higher score line. Hearts of Oak however, stepped up the intensity in the last 10 minutes and got a consolation goal through Patrick Razak.
Hearts of Oak now awaits the draw for the 2021/22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup Additional Second Preliminary Round that will be conducted at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 11:00 GMT.
The Additional Second Preliminary Round will see the 16 teams that qualified from the Second Preliminary Round, facing the losing 16 teams from the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Second Preliminary Round.
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