Match Preview: Hearts of Oak vs Club Industriel de Kamsar
Accra Hearts of Oak make a return to continental football this season after years of no show in either of Caf’s inter-club competitions. They face a Guinean opponent in Club Industriel de Kamsar today.
The first leg tie between the two sides was cancelled due to the coup in Guinea a week before the match. That coup prompted security concerns and the Organizing Committee decided to call off the match and make it a one-off encounter which will be played today in Accra.
Hearts of Oak are experienced in the competition than their rivals but the long absence of the Ghanaian giants means they would need a bit of adjusting to the terrain and nature of the competition. Thankfully, they will play this at home and on their favourite turf.
Kamsar have not been so successful in Caf competitions. The most recent appearances in Caf competitions were in 2019 and 2020. And over four matches, they only managed one home win which was a 1-0 reverse against Paradou AC in August 2019. Since then, they have lost one by the same margin and drawn one goalless. Adding to their previous defeat before the victory, they made two total defeats, one draw and one victory. They conceded four and scored once in that period.
Their form in the Guinean Ligue 1 was a different case and though they finished second behind Horoya, they won four of their last five matches of the season and drew one, scoring 10 and conceding two with three clean sheets in the process.
Hearts of Oak on the other hand after ramping to a season double have not been themselves in the preparation matches ahead of the new season. After two wins, two draws and a final day defeat to end the league season, they beat Ashanti Gold on penalties to win the FA Cup. Since then, they have played two notable friendly matches and lost both, first a 1-0 defeat to ASKO de Kara before a 3-2 defeat against newly promoted premier league side, Accra Lions.
There will be Ghanaian opposition in the Kamsar side after they completed the signing of former Kumasi Asante Kotoko duo Amos Frimpong and Martin Antwi and former Samartex 1996 attacker Sampson Eduku.
The match will be played at the Accra Sports stadium today, Sunday, September 19, 2021, at 3 pm and it will be played behind closed doors. It will be officiated by Patrick Tanguy Jean Philippe Vlei as the centre referee, Kouame Gabriel Kangah (Assistant I), Kalilou Bamba (Assistant II) and Allou Franc Eric Miessan (Fourth Official). Sekou Wieh Konneh from Liberia will be the match Commissioner.
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
