The stage is set for one of Ghana’s most historic football rivalries to take center stage as Hearts of Oak face off against Asante Kotoko on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
This highly anticipated encounter is not only a battle between two of the country’s most successful clubs but also a crucial fixture in the ongoing Ghanaian Premier League season.
Kotoko, who began the season with a strong start, securing four wins from their first seven matches, have since struggled, suffering four consecutive defeats. This slump has seen them slip to seventh place in the league standings, with just 18 points from a possible 36. In contrast, Hearts of Oak, despite a rocky start, have surged back with three consecutive wins, moving up to sixth position, just one point ahead of their arch-rivals.
In an exclusive interview with 3Sports, Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara made it clear that while the match is steeped in historic rivalry, the focus for both teams is on the vital three points at stake. “It is another game,” Ouattara said. “The importance of this game is the three points. We need those points, Kotoko also need it, and now everything depends on the players. I think the difference can be just small, small details and I pray to God to get those details in my favour.”
Ouattara acknowledged the intensity of the rivalry and the fierce competition for the points, emphasizing that both teams are eager for a win. He also expressed his belief that his team’s current position in the league table does not accurately reflect their potential. “It is a tough match, all the two teams are angry,” he explained. “We need the points because that position we are in, we think we don’t deserve to be there. We want to go higher than that, so we need to win the matches.”
The stakes are high for both teams. For Hearts of Oak, a win would not only improve their league position but also provide an opportunity to overcome the disappointment of last season, when they suffered defeats both home and away to Kotoko, including a loss in the Democracy Cup.
As the two clubs prepare to face off in what promises to be a thrilling encounter, fans of both teams are eagerly awaiting what could be a decisive clash in the league’s title race. With the rivalry rekindled and the points vital for both sides, the match is expected to be a spectacle of passion, intensity, and drama.
