It was double joy for Accra Hearts of Oak as they were crowned winners of the 2023 President’s Cup following a 1-0 victory over their arch-rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The league game which was transmogrified into the President Cup saw both sides put their best lineups up for the game.
The visitors were the first to make their presence felt on the field as Ugandan forward, Stephen Mukwala made a mess of a good one-on-one opportunity to give his side the lead as he fired over the bar much to the disappointment of the fans present.
Hearts of Oak will have opportunities of their own through Benjaimen Yorke and Obeng Junior. Still, for in experience and lapse in concentration they failed to beat Ibrahim Danlad in post for Kotoko.
The second half will resume with the same intensity as the former, a Linda Mtange inch-perfect free-kick delivered into the box of the opposition will find the head of Konadu Yiadom, who craftily headed past the helpless, Danlad to give the Phobians the lead.
The goal awoke the demon in the Porcupine boys as they searched frantically for an equalizer, Sheriff Mohammed’s header came off the crossbar.
Mukwala was a torn in the flesh for the Phobians but Caleb Amankwah was equal to the task on several occasions in the game.
Read More: Raphael Dwamena nets brace in Egnatia win over Kastrioti in Albania
The final minutes of the game saw, Kotoko on the ascendency pulling every string available to force an equalizer but a resolute Hearts defense repealed their threats on the day, who picked all three points as well as the Presidents Cup 2023.
The win aids Hearts to 4th on the log, which lifts some pressure off them following their bad patch off form in their last five games.
In attendance was President Akufo-Addo, Umaro Moktar Sissoco (President of Guinea Bissau), and other high-profile dignitaries who witnessed this year’s President’s Cup game.
