The Moroccan giants will arrive in Ghana without their influential player after he sealed a deal outside the country
Wydad Athletic Club captain Walid El Karti has signed a three-year deal with Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC, the two clubs have confirmed.
The 27-year-old, who had risen through the ranks of the club to become the captain, left them on few days ahead of their first game in the Caf Champions League.
WAC, unlike Hearts of Oak who played Guinean side CI Kamsar, were drawn bye in the preliminary round.
According to reports in Morocco, Karti’s move to Pyramids cost the Egyptian club around $1.6 million.
Hearts will host WAC at the Accra Sports Stadium on October 22 and the return fixture has been scheduled to take place a week later in Casablanca.
Karti helped Wydad Athletic Club to win four Moroccan Batola League titles, one Caf Champions League trophy and a Caf Super Cup after in eight years with the club.
He was also part of the Morocco national team that won the 2018 and 2020 African Nations Championships (CHAN) titles.
He is now ranked one of the top highest African players plying their trade on the continent.
Karti’s unavailability means that WAC have now seen two of their top players missing the game since youngster Salaheddine Benyachou has also been ruled out after he underwent a surgery this week.