Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting his side as they prepare for a trip to Abrankese to face MTN FA Cup finalists Nations FC in a Ghana Premier League matchday 31 encounter on Sunday.

The Phobians head into the encounter seeking a return to winning ways after a run of mixed results on the road, despite maintaining their status as one of the strongest away sides in the Ghana Premier League this season.

Dramani, speaking ahead of the fixture, admitted that recent matches have tested his team’s resilience, particularly against physically imposing opponents but though they won the previous encounter against Nations in the first round, the coach believes it was one of the toughest home games that they have played.

“I think it was a game we won, but we will attest that it was one of the toughest games that we played at home. They are very strong sides when it comes to their direct football.”
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, Hearts of Oak head coach

He further highlighted the specific threats posed by such teams, stressing the need for tactical discipline and preparation.“They are a very athletic team who make a lot of runs in behind,” Dramani added. “We are taking cognizance of this and working closely in order to be able to tame them and still bring our identity to bear.”

The league break, which lasted close to three weeks, provided Hearts of Oak with an opportunity to regroup and maintain match sharpness through friendly fixtures. “The league has been on break for close to three weeks now and we have kept ourselves very busy playing against lower division sides and Heart of Lions,” Dramani explained.

Hearts Seek Consistency Amid Mixed Form

Despite their strong overall away record this season, Hearts have struggled for consistency in recent trips, going three matches without a win on the road. They have accumulated 23 points away from home, at least four more than closest challengers Medeama SC, but recent defeats have raised concerns.

Their record at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex offers some form of optimism. Hearts are unbeaten in their two previous visits to Abrankese, though both matches ended in draws, highlighting the difficulty of securing maximum points at the venue.

Historically, the two sides have met five times since Nations FC’s debut in the 2023/24 season. Hearts hold a slight edge with two wins, compared to one for Nations FC, while two matches have ended level. Notably, all victories recorded in this fixture have come at the Phobians’ home ground.

Nations FC, however, remain formidable at home this campaign. They are yet to lose at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex, winning seven and drawing three of their last ten matches there, underlining their dominance in Abrankese.

Dramani acknowledged the disappointment of his side’s most recent outing away at Vision FC where they lost narrowly but a last gasp Benjamin Kwarteng strike but insisted the focus remains firmly on a positive response.

“Of course, you go into games expecting to have positive outcomes. Unfortunately, that outcome was not what we intended to have. That is part of the sport. We need to bounce back.”
Didi Dramani

He emphasized the importance of mentality within the squad as they look to regain momentum.

“I think that it is always good to think about how to respond positively. In association football, outcomes sometimes do not come the way you want it. When it doesn’t come, you need to believe in what you are doing and get back on track. It is always about responding. We are ready to respond positively.”
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani

With fans eager for a turnaround, the Hearts coach also delivered a message of appreciation and reassurance.“I think that they have what we always have more, they are the ones who don’t leave the club,” he noted. “We appreciate their effort and we will continue to do our very best in terms of salvaging the image of the club and getting a better outcome in our next game.”