Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has lauded Hearts of Oak’s players for their renewed mentality as the Phobians gear up for the start of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season.
The Accra giants opened their campaign on Friday with a high-profile clash against newly promoted Hohoe United at the Accra Sports Stadium, where the Phobians played goalless draw with the debutants.
Speaking in an interview, Agyemang Badu pointed to a noticeable shift in mindset within the squad under new head coach Didi Dramani, contrasting it with the team’s outlook under former boss Aboubakar Ouattara.
“Hearts of Oak have really prepared for the upcoming Ghana Premier League season under new coach Didi Dramani. He has played a couple of games with the team, and you can clearly see the mentality of the players has drastically changed,” he said.
“Gradually, I think the Phobia spirit is coming back. Hearts of Oak will be exciting this season. In the Top 4 competition, they staged a strong comeback against GoldStars after going down by two goals. That fighting spirit shows what is building within the team.”
The Phobians recorded a much-improved campaign in 2024/25, finishing in the top four of the Premier League after narrowly avoiding relegation the season before. Although they ended the campaign without silverware, their progress has set the stage for bigger ambitions.
With a rejuvenated squad and renewed confidence, Hearts of Oak are now setting their sights on reclaiming the Ghana Premier League title in the 2025/26 season under Dramani’s leadership.
