Hohoe United's Valiant Debut: 10-Man Draw Stuns Hearts of Oak in Accra
Accra, September 12, 2025 – In a pulsating opener to the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season, newly promoted Hohoe United etched their name into the history books with a gritty 0-0 draw against Accra Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Volta Region newcomers, stepping into the top flight for the first time, showed remarkable resilience, holding firm even after being reduced to 10 men, to deny the Phobians a winning start and claim a precious point on a night that belonged to the underdogs.
Under the floodlights and amid a sea of rainbow-colored banners, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Hearts, coached by Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, sought to launch their title charge with authority. The home side, fresh from a solid pre-season, dominated possession from the outset, with midfielder Abdul Karim pulling the strings in the engine room and injecting tempo into their fluid attacks. Forward Frank Abora Duku brought energy and directness up top, testing Hohoe's backline early with a couple of darting runs that forced hurried clearances.
Hohoe United, led by the tactically astute Tijani Abdul Rahim Bashiru—a former Hearts boss himself—arrived with a clear game plan: absorb pressure, stay compact, and strike on the counter. Their debutants' defense, anchored by the experience Paul Kwame, repelled the initial waves with disciplined shape and mental fortitude. Kwame's leadership was pivotal, organising a unit that included Mohammed Haruna and Solomon Adomako ensuring Hearts' probing passes found no joy in the final third. The first half passed in a stalemate of half-chances, with the best falling to Hearts' Martin Karikari whose curling effort from 25 yards skimmed over the crossbar, drawing oohs from the partisan crowd.
The interval offered little respite, as the second half erupted into a battle of wills. Hohoe's organization held, but the game's turning point arrived in the 67th minute when debutant Solomon Adomako, eager to make his mark, picked up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Hearts' winger. Down to 10 men, the visitors could have crumbled under the mounting pressure, but Bashiru's meticulous pre-match analysis paid dividends. "We focused on maintaining defensive shape, closing spaces, and remaining mentally strong," Bashiru later revealed, crediting his side's adaptability. The visitors nealry got the opener but a wonderful save from Black Stars' goalkeeper Benjamin Asare denied Ganiu Abass
Hearts sensed blood and poured forward, introducing fresh legs in attack to exploit the numerical edge. Duku's header from a corner went wide, while Karim's driven shot forced a stunning fingertip save from Hohoe's keeper, Emmanuel Ansah. Wave after wave crashed against Paul Kwame's rearguard, who threw bodies on the line in heroic fashion—Yeboah's last-ditch tackle on a breakaway chance epitomising their defiance. Dramani's men huffed and puffed, but their lack of a cutting edge in the box—echoing frustrations from recent campaigns—proved their undoing. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, a final scramble in the box ended with Safian hoofing clear, sparking wild celebrations among the traveling Hohoe faithful.
The final whistle brought relief for the 10-man warriors and groans from the home support, but Dramani remained upbeat in his assessment: "I think the players gave everything needed in football." For Hohoe, this point feels like a triumph, a statement of intent from Bashiru's charges who dominated Zone Three last term with 72 points. "It's a promising introduction to life in the top tier," one observer noted, highlighting their potential to trouble the elite. Both sides depart with a solitary point, but the narrative shifts dramatically for Hohoe United. Hosting Young Apostles next weekend, Bashiru eyes a first win to build momentum, while Hearts must regroup quickly to avoid an early stutter in their ambitions. In the end, at the Accra Sports Stadium, the debutants didn't just survive—they stunned, proving that fairy tales can start on opening night.
By Felix Romark