African Champions League: Hearts win in Nigeria

AKURDI, Nigeria - Lobi Stars (Nigeria) 0 Hearts of Oak (Ghana) 2 Scorers: Ossei Kuffour 55, Ismail Addo 75

Half-time 0-0; Attendance: 15,000

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 20 (Reuters)(DS) - Two second-half goals from captain Ossei Kuffour and teenager Ismail Addo kept up Hearts of Oak's 100 percent record in the African Champions League when they won 2-0 at Lobi Stars of Nigeria on Sunday. It was the second successive away win for the Ghana champions and has given them a five-point lead in group two at the halfway stage of the competition.

Pre-tournament group favourites Al Ahli of Egypt dropped further ground as they were held 1-1 by Jeanne d'Arc of Senegal in the other group two match played in Dakar on Sunday. Esperance of Tunisia went back to the top of group one on Saturday with a thrilling 3-2 win against unbeaten Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, but last year's beaten finalists only lead on goal difference in their group. Hearts took advantage of some poor form in front of goal by their Nigerian hosts to win a third successive match and put themselves within striking distance of a place in December's final.

Ossei Kuffour scored a controversial opener in the 55th minute, sidefooting the ball into the net at the end of a square ball that looked to have run out of play but was allowed to stand by the referee.

But there was little wrong with Addo's goal 20 minutes later as the 18-year-old international beat the offside trap, side-stepped the goalkeeper and slotted home to make sure of the points.

Hearts now need four points from their last three matches to make sure of a place in the two-legged final and have two home matches to come.

Al Ahli needed a win to stay in touch and were buoyed by an early goal from Goda Ibrahim but the Senegalese hosts fought back and equalised through Ndiaye Assane midway through the second half to record their first points of the campaign.

Line up:Eben Dida, Yaw Amankwa Mireku Jacob Nettey Agyeman Duah Stephen Tetteh Joe Ansah/Dan Quaye Kenneth Sarpong Adjah Tetteh Ishmael Addo Emmanuel Kufuor Charles Taylor/Charles Allotey

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