Abubakar Ouattara – Adomonline.com

Hearts of Oak coach Aboubakar Ouattara ‘pained’ by FA Cup exit

Samuel Appiah — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:58:51 +0000

Hearts of Oak head coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, has admitted that his team’s shocking FA Cup defeat to Golden Kicks left him deeply hurt, revealing that he remained troubled by the result even after arriving home.

The Phobians were eliminated from the FA Cup over the weekend after a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to the lower-tier side in their Round of 16 clash at the Legon Sports Stadium.

In an interview, Ouattara expressed how much the defeat weighed on him, emphasizing that his strong faith was the only thing that helped him cope.

“The defeat to Golden Kicks pains me,” the Ivorian manager told Asempa FM’s Sports Nite Show. “Even when I got home, I was still thinking about it. If not for my strong belief, I wouldn’t have prayed when I got there,” he added.

With their FA Cup journey now over, Hearts of Oak will shift focus to the Ghana Premier League, where they remain in contention for the title. After 19 matches, the Phobians sit fourth on the table with 33 points.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Premier League is set to resume on March 7, as confirmed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Why we could not beat FC Samartex – Hearts of Oak coach Abubakar Ouattara

Samuel Appiah — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:35:58 +0000

Hearts of Oak head coach, Abubakar Ouattara, has expressed his disappointment following his team’s goalless draw with FC Samartex in their Matchday 17 fixture.

The Phobians, aiming to extend their unbeaten streak, were held to a 0-0 draw at the Nsenkyire Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The result leaves Hearts of Oak in sixth place on the league table, two points behind their fierce rivals, Asante Kotoko.

In his post-match interview, Ouattara admitted that his team struggled to make the most of their opportunities to secure a victory.

“We wanted to win today, but unfortunately, we didn’t score. We didn’t create enough chances; we managed only one or two. Unfortunately, we didn’t play well enough to score,” said the Ivorian manager.

Ouattara also lauded the performance of Samartex goalkeeper Kofi Baah, whose crucial saves thwarted Hearts of Oak’s attempts to break the deadlock.

“I think the goalkeeper of Samartex did well, especially with one or two crucial saves, particularly the last one,” he added.

The Phobians will look to bounce back and return to winning ways when they host Berekum Holy Stars in their Matchday 18 encounter at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.

We will approach every game like a final – Hearts of Oak coach Abubakar Ouattara

Samuel Appiah — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:20:37 +0000

Hearts of Oak coach Abubakar Ouattara has emphasized that his team will treat every match in the ongoing 2024/25 Ghana Premier League as if it were a final.

The Ivorian coach shared this approach after his side secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Vision FC on Friday night at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, thanks to a lone goal by Mawuli Wayo, which earned the Phobians all three points.

“Every team that faces Hearts of Oak comes with extra preparation. They are motivated and determined when playing against us, and that’s the reality,” Ouattara said in his post-match comments.

“Our players and the technical team must be serious and treat every match like a final because the opponents we face bring a different level of motivation,” he added.

This win moves Hearts of Oak to 5th place in the league standings with 15 points. They will face Karela United at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in their Matchday 11 clash this weekend.

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Hearts of Oak coach blames ‘dumsor’ after losing at Legon Cities

Samuel Appiah — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:28:00 +0000

Hearts of Oak coach Abubakar Ouattara faced another setback as his team suffered a 2-0 defeat against Legon Cities over the weekend.

The Phobians lost to The Royals at the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu during the Matchday 27 games.

Albert Yeboah secured the win for the hosts with a brace after a goalless first half, leaving Hearts with four losses in their last five league matches.

Following the defeat, some travelling fans stayed behind to express their disappointment with Ouattara’s team. The Ivorian coach approached the supporters, seemingly to hear their concerns and offer explanations.

Despite visible upset, both sides conveyed their thoughts passionately, with no further escalation.

In a viral video, Ouattara explained that, he had no control over the current squad’s composition, as he wasn’t responsible for recruitment.

While some fans criticized the team’s performance, others questioned his selections, particularly singling out Thomas Winimi for recent mistakes.

In response, Ouattara asked for patience and support, stating, “These are the materials I have. I do not have any players anywhere else so I have to work with them. So be patient and hear me out.”

Ouattara also revealed the team’s pre-match difficulties, saying, “Yesterday at the hotel, we did not have electricity or water.”

Hearts of Oak will aim to bounce back when they face Accra Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, April 26, 2024, in the Matchday 28 games.

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