Accra Hearts of Oak registered a slim 1-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in their Caf Champions League clash on Sunday.

An Isaac Mensah first-half goal in front of 2,000 fans kept alive the Phobian dream of qualifying into the group stages of the CAF Champions League.

Hearts will head into next week’s second leg away from home with a narrow advantage, with the ultimate aggregate winners over two legs expected to secure a ticket for the group stage of the competition.

The Moroccans came close to getting the opener but Hearts goalkeeper Richard Attah made sumptuous save in the early stages of the match.

Wydad came close again as an attempt by Zouhair El Moutaradji was once again saved by Attah.

The Phobian had their moment in the 36th minute after a through ball got to Daniel Afriyie Barnieh who had only the goalkeeper Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti to beat but failed.

Barnieh was brought down by the goalkeeper which looked like a penalty but the referee waved on.

Hearts finally got the breakthrough four minutes from the break when Mensah beautifully slotted home an excellent cross from Salifu Ibrahim from the left.

The Rainbow boys failed to make good use of the scoring opportunities that came their way in the second half of the encounter.

Hearts will hope to hold their own in the reverse fixture at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca in a week’s time.