Accra Hearts of Oak qualified for the next stage of the CAF Confederation cup with a 1-0 aggregate after holding AS Police to goalless draw game in Benin in the second leg fixture on Saturday.
The Phobians went into the game with the hopes of qualifying into the next stage of the competition after winning the first leg 1-0 in Accra fortnight ago.
This comes as big relief to Hearts of Oak who have been inconsistent on the domestic front. It will also come as a welcome breather for head coach, Herbert Addo who was coming under increasing pressure following the clubs topsy-turvy run in the Ghana premier league.
The Phobians are eager to write their name in the history books once again after conquering Africa in the year 2000 and 2004.
Hearts won the prestigious CAF Champions league in 2000 and won the Confederations Cup four years after but those glory days seem a long time ago.
Herbert Addo will be pleased if he can win a major trophy for the phobians this year. Hearts of Oak have gone six years without winning the Ghana premier league or any major silverware for that matter
Hearts dominated the opening 15 minutes of the game by creating all the decent chances, but they failed to hit the back of the net.
The home side was awarded a penalty in the 28th-minute mark of the game, but Soulama Abdoulaye in post for the Phobians saved the kick as both sides fired blankly in the first half.
From the recess, AS Police put the Phobians under intense pressure searching for the opener, but the resolute defense of the Phobians marshaled by goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye kept the scoreline barren.
Late in the game, Hearts took the game to the host and had the most glorious chance in the game, but substitute Kwame Kizito, who came in for Gilbert Fiamenyo, had his shot saved on the goal line by AS Police defender as the game ended 0-0.
Hearts have reached the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup competition after their 1-0 aggregate win over AS Police of Benin.
Senegalese side Olympique de Ngor are opponents for Hearts in the first round stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
They progressed from the preliminary round after beating Cameroonian side Unisport Bafang 3-1 at home on Saturday to seal a 3-2 aggregate win.
Olympique de Ngor will host Hearts at the Stade Ngor on 14 March and the return leg in Accra on 05 April.
Hearts qualified 1-0 on aggregate last Saturday after drawing 0-0 with AS Police in Cotonou, Benin in the return leg clash.
Meanwhile, Hearts goalkeeper, Abdoulaye Soulama is confident the Phobians are ready to face Senegalese side in the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Soulama who saved Hearts of Oak from the jaws of elimination in Cotonou expressed confidence his side is ready to face the Senegalese who also advanced on a 3-1 aggregate against Cameroonian side UFC du Haut Nkam.
“We are ready for them. Any club that comes our way. We are happy with the results and we will go back to Ghana strong and prepare for our next opponents,” the Burkina Faso international keeper told reporters after the game.
Soulama joined Hearts of Oak from local rivals Asante Kotoko .
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