10 November 2009
Heartland striker John Owoeri could face a two year spell on the sidelines after he tested positive for a banned substance during this year's CAF Champions League.
A top CAF source said that the former Feyenoord winger failed a drugs test after Heartland's Champions League Group B match in Sousse against Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel in August.
Owoeri single handedly wrecked TP Mazembe in another Group B tie at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri a month later as Heartland avenged a 2-0 loss they had suffered in Lubumbashi. He scored a goal, provided an assist and also struck the post against the eventual CAF Champions League winners.
However, former youth Owoeri was conspicuously missing for both the semi-finals against Kano Pillars and the finals against TP Mazembe soon after.
"We still do not have the details why we were ordered by CAF not to use the player any longer," Heartland team manager, Emeka Iwuagwu, said.
"The CAF disciplinary committee will sit in Abuja today (Monday) and both my chairman and Owoeri will appear before them."
Heartland lost this year's CAF Champions League trophy on the away goals rule after they tied Mazembe 2-2 on aggregate. They won the first final 2-1 in Owerri before they lost the return fixture through an own goal scored by skipper Victor Ezurike at the Kenya Stadium in Lubumbashi.
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