Heart of Lions head coach Bashir Hayford has expressed satisfaction after his team earned a hard-fought draw against Hohoe United in the Week 17 fixture of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season.
The match, played in Hohoe, marked the first Volta derby of the season, and saw both sides battling fiercely for supremacy. Hohoe United missed a crucial penalty that could have secured all three points, while Heart of Lions also created chances but failed to convert.
Speaking after the match, Hayford described the contest as intense and competitive, suggesting that sharing the points was a fair outcome.
“I think it was a very tough game because both sides didn’t want to lose. The home side played aggressively, and we matched them boot for boot. They had a penalty they couldn’t convert, we also had a clear chance, and we couldn’t score,” Hayford said.
The coach added a touch of local perspective on the rivalry between the two Volta Region teams:
“I think both sides are happy because of the friendship between Hohoe and Kpando. Maybe God didn’t want one to be happy and one to be sad, so all of us are sharing the points, and then we go home.”
The draw keeps Heart of Lions in sixth place on the Ghana Premier League table, while Hohoe United remain in 15th position as they continue to fight for survival in the top flight.
