Hearts of Oak eventually conquered Africa on December 17, 2000 for the first time after two unsuccessful attempts.

The unique, historic and groundbreaking feat etched in Ghana football folklore initially seemed unattainable.

Under the tutelage of 1965 Nations Cup winning captain Charles Addo Odametey of blessed memory, the Phobians lost to Hafia in 1977 and Union Sportive Douala two years later.

Tommy Thompson of blessed memory journalist par excellence and publisher of the Free Press then chaired the team.

Having inflicted a 2-1 win over Esperance in Tunis a fortnight earlier despite Lawrence Yaw Amankwah Mireku's expulsion, they played with grit and determination to silence the visitors in a nail-biting Grand Finale.

Robin Victor Williams from South Africa directed affairs from the middle in the grudge encounter which was graced by the then Veep Professor John Atta Mills of blessed memory, CAF President Issa Hayatou and Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Teye Mensah.

Samuel Adjei, Dan Quaye, skipper Jacob Nettey, Stephen Tetteh, Edward Agyemang Duah, Charles Akwei Allotey, Edmund Copson, Lawrence Adjah Tetteh, Joseph Ansah, Emmanuel Adjogu, Kenneth Sarpong, Charles Taylor, Osumanu Amadu,Tormentor-in-Chief Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor and Enfant Terrible Ishmael Addo featured for the Rain bow Club.

The late Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio ably deputized by both Emmanuel Ofei Ansah (deceased) and Archibald Lamptey with Thomas Okine as Team Manager steered affairs from the bench.

Chief Executive Officer Harry Zakkour enjoyed tremendous support from Board Chairman Ato Ahwoi.

Esperance nicknamed the Blood and Gold was birthed on January 15, 1919.

 

Tried and tested gaffer Youssef Zouaoui had guided them to two trophies the defunct CAF Cup in 1997 and CAF Winners' Cup a year later.

They also annexed the CAF Champions League in 1994 and finished as losing finalists five years later.

 

Skipper goalie Chokri El Ouaer, Walid Azaiez, Faycal Ben Ahmed, Tarek Thabet, Radhi Ben Abdelhmajid Jaidi, Mohamed Bedhiafi, Hakim Nouira, Mourad Melki, Taoufik Hammami, Hassen Gabsi, Sirajeddine Chihi,Maher Kanzari, Reinaldo Jose Zacarias da Silva alias Aliluia, Adailton Pereira dos Santos both from Brazil featured for Tunisia's most decorated football club under the Presidency of Slim Chiboub.

The visitors drew first blood through diminutive winger Hassen Gabsi in the eighteenth minute but that did little to deter Hearts who played spiritedly after the interval and scored a flurry of late goals through Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor who notched a brace and Ishmael Addo to compound Esperances'misery who had Walid Azaiez sent off for a second cautionable offence.

Loud and joyous ovation rented the air after Issa Hayatou presented the diadem to Jacob Nettey.

Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor who finished as top scorer with ten goals and Edward Agyemang Duah who missed out on the Golden Fleece twice with Kotoko in 1993 and Ashantigold four years later broke down in tears as he picked up his medal.

Hearts who had already triumphed in both the domestic league and FA Cup also became the first club in West Africa to lift the Double a feat which still remains unmatched.