Morlaye Sylla scored the decisive goal of the match but also cleared the ball off the line to prevent Djoliba AC from finding a way to salvage a point.
After missing a host of chances in the opening minutes at the Stade 28 Septembre in Conakry, the Guinean international Sylla struck the opener in the 19th minute which sealed the victory for the home team.
As a result, HAC remained top on the CAF Confederation Cup group B standings with three matches played, while Malian giants Djoliba also remained second on the table.
The home side was the first to create an opportunity at goal when the ball fell to Aristide Bance after five minutes. He opted to take it on his left foot, but he could only skew it wide of Aboubakar Doumbia’s goal.
Enock Sgyei’s attempt was caught in an offside call after a quarter of an hour, before seeing Godfrey Asante’s cross go out of play.
Horoya deservingly broke the deadlock four minutes later when Morlaye Sylla latched onto Bance’s long-ball, cut inside Doumbia and fired home a powerful left-footed shot into the top-right corner.
Sassou Sissoko came close to netting an equaliser in 29th minute with a shot from distance but Moussa Camara managed to tip the striker’s effort over the bar.
Djoliba continued to dominate proceedings in the encounter but there was little action happening in front of goal on either end of the park.
Oumar Kanote and Niang were then involved in a quick one-two in the closing minutes of the half. However, their play, which was causing problems for Horoya, was blown for offside.
The second half started off with Bance nearly doubling Horoya’s lead as the forward tried to catch Doumbia off his line but the winger’s lobbed effort sailed over the bar.
Nikiema Dramane tried his luck from range three minutes later but the Horoya skipper fired his effort high over the bar.
Mamadou Cise came close to equalising for Djoliba in the 64th minute but the winger’s deflected effort went just wide of the right-hand post.
Augustine Ekwa tried his luck from close range in the 81st minute but Camara did well to deny the Malian striker.
Moryale Sylla came to his side’s rescue in the 86th minute as he cleared a goal-bound header off the line, to sustain his side’s lead.
