A huge task awaits Hearts of Oak tomorrow in Casablanca, Morocco, when they square off with Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) in the second leg of the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

Wounded WAC would be looking forward to overturn the 1-0 defeat suffered in the hands of Hearts last Sunday to qualify to the next round of the competition.

With the winner of the encounter making it to the group stage (money zone) while the loser would be relegated to the Confederations Cup, the North African giants would give their guests a good run for their money.

Hearts, however, would go into the game beaming with confidence after their 1-0 advantage and the level of quality displayed by Coach Samuel Boadu’s side in their first leg fixture is an added fillip.

Isaac Mensah scored the only goal in the exciting first leg encounter to give his side a huge advantage ahead of tomorrow’s game.

Though there were indications that the game would be played behind closed doors as part of COVID-19 preventive measures, the Ghanaian champions would be expected to remain confident and protect their advantage to scale through to the next stage of the competition.

The likes of Daniel Afriyie Barnieh, Isaac Mensah (first leg goal scorer), Emmanuel Nettey, Kofi Kodzi and young sensation Salim Adams would be expected to make a tick for Hearts in Morocco.

After missing out on continental football since 2015, Hearts would leave no stone unturned in an attempt to remain in this year’s Champions league and possibly replicate their outstanding feat of 2000; arguably the most successful year in the club’s history.

Hearts won the FA Cup and the premier league in 2000 and went ahead to win the CAF Champions League.

With the FA Cup and premier league already in the bag, Hearts looked motivated to go in for the ultimate Champions League.

The home side would also be hoping to make their home advantage count in order to upset the Phobians.

The likes of Yahia Attiat-Allah, Ayman El Hassouni and Muaid Ellafi had a good game in Accra would be a thorn in the defence of Hearts.

It promises to be a keenly contested encounter with both teams desperate to qualify to the group stages of the CAF Champions League, scheduled for February next year.

By Michael Abayateye