Lack Of Experience Cost Hearts of Oak Against Esperance - Herbert Addo

The Phobians coach blames inexperience for his team’s failure to reach the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup.

Ghana Premier League side Hearts of Oak were eliminated from this year’s Caf Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 with Esperance on Saturday at the Accra Sports Stadium, falling to an aggregate 5-1 defeat.

Midfielder Isaac Mensah scored early on with a powerful header on a well delivered free-kick by left back Isaac Oduro.

But substitute Wassim Naghmouchi finished off a nice counter-attack on 89 minutes to confirm qualification for the Blood and Gold .

The Phobians were seeking to win a second Confederation Cup title after winning the maiden edition in 2004 when they defeated arch-rivals Asante Kotoko.

Their coach Herbert Addo says that was not going to be possible with his inexperienced side

“Technically and tactically we all saw the difference between the two teams, Esperance are ahead of us in terms of experience,” he said at the post-match press conference.

“I am disappointed in a way because when we came back from the Tunisia we worked on goal scoring knowing very well we were going to need more goals to qualify but we scored only one.

“We created a lot of chances but my boys lacked the experience needed to score.

“I think we have a good team that if we continue like this I strongly believe that in future we will do well in competitions of this nature.”