Accra Hearts of Oak successfully defended the Gbese Mantse Homowo Peace Cup yesterday, seeing off a spirited Kpando Heart of Lions 2-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium in a contest that combined football, culture, and charity.

Two quickfire strikes inside four minutes from debutant Frank Abora Duku and the lively Hamza Issah proved decisive, ensuring the Phobians lifted the ceremonial trophy for the second year running.

Yet the scoreline tells only part of the story. Lions began with real menace, bossing the opening half-hour and threatening to spoil the party. 

Former Hearts striker Kwadwo Obeng Junior, clearly fired up against his old employers, was a constant menace, while Seedorf Asante came agonisingly close in the ninth minute, flashing a shot just wide after rounding goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Obeng himself forced Asare into two smart saves in the 18th and 28th minutes as the visitors pressed for an opener.

But against the run of play, Hearts pounced. In the 36th minute, a free kick from the left caused chaos in the Lions’ box. Hamza Issah showed composure to trap the loose ball and square unselfishly for Duku, who coolly tucked home on his debut to send the Phobian faithful into raptures.

Barely four minutes later, the stadium erupted again. Hearts broke with speed, George Paaku launching a delightful ball over the retreating Lions’ defence. Issah timed his run to perfection, shrugged off the offside trap, and smashed a sweet volley beyond goalkeeper Nettey to make it 2-0 before half-time.

The interval brought a mix of entertainment and solemnity — dancehall star Jupiter thrilled fans before the stadium fell into silence and darkness to honour the Ghanaian politicians and air force officers who perished in a helicopter crash two weeks ago.

The second half was more measured. Hearts, under the calm direction of coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, managed their lead with efficiency, while Lions chased the game with little reward.

Lions boss Seth Hoffman rolled the dice with three substitutions on 57 minutes, but Dramani responded nine minutes later with changes of his own, determined to secure his first silverware since taking charge of the Phobians.

There was late drama as Obeng Junior was handed a golden chance in the 87th minute when a Hearts defender’s back pass went horribly wrong.

But, one-on-one with goalkeeper and captain Benjamin Asare, he fluffed his lines. A minute later, substitute Mawuli Wayo might have killed the game off at the other end, only for Nettey to deny him with a stunning reflex save.

Referee Robert Nunoo eventually brought proceedings to a close after five minutes of stoppage time, sparking jubilation among the Hearts players and fans.

Dramani could finally savour his first piece of silverware with the club, while rapper Tinny lit up the post-match celebrations with a lively performance.

For Hearts, the victory was more than just about the trophy. It marked a symbolic triumph during the Homowo festivities, strengthened the team’s confidence under new leadership, and showcased fresh heroes in Duku and Issah. For Lions, it was a reminder that dominance without ruthlessness brings little reward.