BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Accra Hearts of Oak, has suffered a major setback in their 2025/26 MTN FA Cup campaign after being knocked out by Division Two outfit True Life FC in a surprising 1–0 defeat at the Round of 64 stage.
The loss marks yet another painful chapter in the club’s recent struggles in the domestic knockout competition.
The match, played at the Kpobiman Sports Complex, revived memories of Hearts’ increasingly inconsistent showing in the FA Cup since their triumphant campaign in 2021, when they won the trophy under then-coach Samuel Boadu.
Despite their history as former champions and one of Ghana’s traditional powerhouses, the Phobians have endured repeated early exits, including a similar upset at the same venue two years ago—a reminder of how unpredictable the tournament has become for the club.
Hearts entered Wednesday’s fixture on the back of a confidence-boosting win over Vision FC in the Ghana Premier League just days earlier.
Many supporters anticipated that momentum would carry them past their lower-tier opponents.
Head coach Didi Dramani, however, chose to rotate his squad, giving playing time to several fringe and young players. That tactical gamble, meant to rest key squad members and test depth, ultimately cost the team.
True Life FC approached the game with discipline and determination, defending compactly while exploiting moments on the break.
Their persistence paid off in the 78th minute, when they capitalised on a defensive lapse to score the match’s only goal—sending their bench and travelling supporters into wild celebrations.
The result not only eliminated Hearts from the competition but also delivered one of the standout upsets of this season’s MTN FA Cup.
