Hearts of Oak legend Mohammed Ahmed Polo has voiced his frustration over the club’s recent decline, branding the current state of the Phobians as “mediocre” and far from the club’s glorious past.
Once a powerhouse in Ghanaian football, Hearts of Oak have struggled to replicate the success achieved under former coach Samuel Boadu, who led the team to a Ghana Premier League title and back-to-back FA Cup victories—marking their first major trophies in over a decade.
In the just-concluded 2024/25 season, the Accra-based club finished fourth in the Premier League with 58 points and exited the MTN FA Cup at the Round of 16 stage.
Speaking to Sporty FM, Polo was brutally honest in his evaluation of the club's situation, criticizing both the team’s performance and the perceived lack of ambition from management.
“Hearts of Oak is now a mediocre club. They finished fourth, and management was celebrating. That is unacceptable for a club of Hearts of Oak’s status,” Polo said.
He further expressed disappointment over the club's stagnation compared to former rivals, highlighting missed opportunities at the international level.
“Hearts of Oak should be playing at the Club World Cup. We once beat Esperance to win a continental title, and now they’re competing at the Club World Cup while we are not. It all comes down to poor management—that’s what has brought us to this point,” he added.
In a move aimed at revitalizing the team, Hearts of Oak have appointed Mas-Ud Didi Dramani as their new head coach on a two-year deal ahead of the 2025/26 season. Former head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has been reassigned to a new role as Special Advisor to the club’s Board of Directors.
