CAF Champions League: Hearts of Oak vs. CL Kamsar fixture reduced to single match

Accra Hearts of Oak have been saved the uncertainties of travelling to crisis-torn Guinea this weekend to commence their continental campaign against Guinean champions, CL Kamsar, following a decision by the continent's football governing body to order a single match between the two sides in the preliminary round of the Total Energies CAF Champions League.

The ongoing security challenges in Guinea in the aftermath of a coup that overthrew the government of President Alpha Conde has compelled the Organising Committee of the Champions League to cancel Sunday's first leg clash at the Stade de l'Amitié and reduce the fixture to a single match at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 19, 2021.

According to a statement by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the winner of the tie will advance to the next stage of the 2021/22 Total Energies CAF Champions League.

A penalty shootout will be evoked to determine a winner if the match ends in a deadlock.

In a letter sent to the General Secretary of the GFA, Prosper Harrison Addo, CAF quoted the provisions of Articles 1 & 2.1 of Chapter XIII of the regulations governing the competition which stated that, “in case of troubles, wars, forces majeure or internal situations in a country that may affect the security conditions during planning of a match, the Organising Committee may merge a home and away match into one match.

“If the case concerns only one country, the federation will play its home match on a ground in another country, or a single game will be played on the opponent's field.”

Hearts were originally due to travel to Guinea this Sunday for the first leg match against CL Kamsar and host the Guineans in Accra on September 19.