CAF Cup: Djoliba AC Suffer Setback at Home Against Hearts of Oak
Djoliba AC face an uphill battle to progress in the CAF Confederation Cup after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Ghana’s Hearts of Oak in the first leg of the round of 16 on Friday.
The match, played at Bamako’s Modibo Keïta Stadium, saw the Malian side lose crucial ground in front of their home fans after a second-half surge by the visitors.
After a goalless first half, Hearts of Oak broke the deadlock in the 55th minute through Gilbert Fiamenyo, whose strike silenced the home crowd. The Ghanaian side then doubled their lead just eight minutes later, with Paul Acquah finishing off a swift attacking move in the 63rd minute to put the Phobians in control.
Djoliba were handed a lifeline in the latter stages of the match when Hearts of Oak were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Robin Gnagne. The numerical advantage allowed the Malian hosts to push forward, and they were awarded a penalty, which Soumaïla Sidibé converted to reduce the deficit.
Despite the late goal, Djoliba AC now find themselves in a precarious position ahead of the return leg in Accra on May 1. Coach Ivan Minnaert’s side must overturn the deficit on Ghanaian soil — a daunting challenge given Hearts of Oak’s momentum and home advantage.
The loss marks a disappointing setback for the Malian giants, who were hoping to build a commanding first-leg lead in Bamako. Djoliba had returned to continental competition this season with optimism after several years away from the spotlight, but their qualification hopes now hang in the balance.
A place in the group stages of the CAF Cup is still within reach, but Djoliba will need a disciplined and clinical performance in the return fixture to keep their African campaign alive.
