Accra Hearts of Oak kicked off the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season with a frustrating 0-0 draw against newly promoted Hohoe United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday night.
Under new head coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani, the Phobians dominated possession but couldn’t break through the debutants’ resilient defense, extending their winless run on opening day to seven straight seasons.
The match, which followed President John Dramani Mahama’s ceremonial kick-off, saw Hearts field a strong lineup but struggle for creativity in the first half, with both teams heading into the break level. Hohoe United, coached by Abdul Rahim Bashiru, grew in confidence after the restart, defending stoutly despite being reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Solomon Adomako received a straight red card for a foul on Hearts’ Salifu Ibrahim.
Despite the numerical edge, Hearts failed to capitalize, with efforts from forwards like Emmanuel Baffour and midfield maestro Benjamin Asare going unrewarded. Hohoe’s goalkeeper, Prince Asiedu, was pivotal with key saves, while their backline, led by captain Emmanuel Eshun, stood firm to earn a historic point on their top-flight debut.
Dramani expressed disappointment post-match but praised his team’s effort, saying, “We created chances but lacked the killer instinct. We’ll learn from this and bounce back.” Bashiru, meanwhile, hailed his side’s grit: “Playing with 10 men against Hearts is massive—we’ll build on this.”
Hearts now shift focus to an away trip against Dreams FC next weekend, while Hohoe United host Young Apostles aiming to extend their unbeaten start. The draw leaves both teams with one point each in the 18-team league, where defending champions Gold Stars FC also drew 1-1 with Bechem United.
