Democracy Cup: Hearts of Oak pip Accra rivals Great Olympics to lift trophy

Hearts of Oak defeated local rivals Great Olympics 1-0 to lift the 2025 Democracy Cup at the Legon Sports Stadium on Friday.

The Democracy Cup is a game designed to commemorate and celebrate Ghana’s parlia­mentary democracy.

The Phobians, who put up a brilliant performance in the just ended GHALCA Top Four tournament at the same venue, needed the trophy to make up for last season’s trophiless campaign.

Hearts of Oak dictated the pace of the game from the onset with Great Olympics showing glimpses of their qualities with occasional threats. The first half ended barren with Hearts of Oak the better side.

The 2000 CAF Champions League winners brought life into the second half, pinning Great Olympics to their own half. Their incessant pressure paid off in the 70th minute after substitute George Paaku capitalized on a goalmouth melee to head a pass the way of Kwesi Asmah.

Asmah, who joined the fray in the second half, smashed in the only goal of the match.

Hearts of Oak became second time lucky in the Democracy Cup this year after losing the first edition to sworn rivals, Asante Kotoko last year by 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium.

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