BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Accra Hearts of Oak’s woes on opening day have persisted, with the team extending its seven-year winless run in the Premier League openers to a goalless draw against League debutants Hohoe United at the Accra Sports Stadium.
This marks the Phobians’ seventh consecutive season without a victory on matchday one, with four defeats and three draws in their last seven season openers.
A Record of False Starts
Hearts of Oak’s struggles began in the 2016/17 campaign, where they last won a league opener.
Since then, they’ve had a series of frustrating starts that have often set the tone for inconsistent campaigns. Here’s a breakdown of their performance.
– 2017/18: Drew 0-0 with Inter Allies
– 2020/21: Lost 2-0 away to Aduana Stars
– 2021/22: Drew 0-0 at home against Legon Cities
– 2022/23: Fell 1-0 to Aduana Stars in Dormaa
– 2023/24: Beaten 1-0 by Real Tamale United
– 2024/25: Shocked 1-0 at home by Basake Holy Stars
– 2025/26: Drew 0-0 with Hohoe United at home
A Frustrating Trend
The stalemate against Hohoe United summed up the Phobians’ struggles, despite dominating possession.
Hearts were blunt in attack and failed to find the cutting edge.
New head coach Mas-ud Didi Dramani faces the challenge of reversing the club’s poor starts and re-establishing Hearts as genuine title contenders.
