Injury has ruled out striker Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor from Accra Hearts of Oak's African Champions League second-leg match against Etiole du Congo in Brazzaville Sunday.

The player recorded a hat-trick in the first leg in Ghana.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, head coach of the African Champions told Ghana News Agency that Kuffuor's toe, which was operated upon was still aching, and so he would not be available for the decisive return leg.

The coach, however, said he was confident that his boys would subdue the Congolese at home, given their two-goal advantage and the fact that Etoile would be playing under pressure.

He said the first leg match was very difficult because "as African Champions, we are in focus and every opposition will meet us with great determination in order to cause an upset.

"We are aware of this and we have psyched up the boys to expect stiff challenges in all matches and live by the 'never say die' motto of the club."

Attuquayefio said he would be going to Congo with the full complement of his defence, featuring Yaw Amankwa Mireku and Agyeman Duah.

Mireku missed the first leg match due to the red card he bagged at the earlier stages of the competition last year, while Duah has recovered from an injury.

The coach said he would also rely on the striking force of the attackers and the midfielders to advance into the next stage of the competition.