Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has urged supporters to temper their excitement after his side clinched the 2025 Democracy Cup, stressing that his squad is still deep in transition and far from its full potential.
The Phobians edged past fierce rivals Accra Great Olympics 1-0 at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday, with super-sub Kwesi Asmah stepping off the bench to hammer home the only goal of the game in the 70th minute. The youngster’s decisive strike not only sealed the silverware but also earned him a well-deserved Man of the Match accolade.
🔴🔵🟡 | 🌳
FULL-TIME! 🏆
One goal was all it took to silence our noisy neighbours in the Democracy Cup. 😉
Olympics 0️⃣ – 1️⃣ AHOSC#AHOSC #PositiveEnergy #Phobia4Life pic.twitter.com/yhOX8ZSMms
— Phooobia! – #WeNeverSayDie 🏅🏆 (@HeartsOfOakGH) September 5, 2025
But even as the club celebrated their first Democracy Cup crown, having lost last year’s inaugural edition to sworn enemies Asante Kotoko, Dramani was quick to reel in expectations, framing the victory as a small milestone in a much larger rebuilding effort.
“It’s still early days yet… we are ready to play [the new league campaign] but there is still a lot of work to improve on,” Dramani told reporters, emphasizing that his team is focused on steady growth rather than fleeting success.
The tactician, known for his emphasis on youth development and tactical discipline, doubled down on his long-term vision.
“We are a developmental team, it’s [the team] a work in progress, so there are still some areas to still work on, and then we become more formidable,” he added.
Hearts of Oak will now pivot their attention to the Ghana Premier League curtain-raiser, where they face ambitious newcomers Hohoe United on Friday, September 12. With the confidence of a trophy win and Dramani’s philosophy taking shape, the Phobians’ quest to restore their dominance in Ghanaian football is only just beginning.
