Kotoko fans are still basking in the glory of their win in the #SuperClash, eighteen hours after Albert Amoah's finish touched the back of the net. And why not?

This was the perfect reward for their long-suffering. The fact that it came just a week before Christmas makes it even better.

The man whose goal settled it, Albert Amoah, will enjoy this too.

Sunday's winner completes a remarkable week for the former Olympics striker, who scored his first goal in national team colors on Wednesday.

The biggest winner from Sunday, without question, is Prosper Narteh Ogum.

If in doubt, you only need to look at how he celebrated Amoah's stoppage-time winner. Ogum has always been a well-behaved, courteous man.

In some respects, he is cut from the late Herbert Addo, Jones Attuquayfio, and for latter-day saints, the Arne Slots and Hansi Flick's of this world. Even when they win under dramatic circumstances, their celebrations are often measured.

All of that went out of the window yesterday. When Amoah scored the winner, Ogum dashed across the tartan tracks with the speed of an automobile with twin-turbo engines.

This is how Ogum celebrated Albert Amoah’s win at the death pic.twitter.com/leGhZXPUvJ

— FII (@fiifi_manfred) December 15, 2024

Once he reached the glass fence, Ogum climbed it and celebrated with the fans.

It is not clear exactly when Ogum removed the tie from his shirt but after climbing down the fence, he raced across the length of the tartan tracks to celebrate with fans at the Asokwa end of the stadium, waving his make-do flag; his red tie.

This meant more. It means more. Not just because it was Hearts of Oak, but also because, Ogum, more than anyone else, understood that his job remains on the line.

Although Kotoko had won consecutive matches since their five-game winless streak across October and November, Ogum understood that the club was not out of the woods yet.

In November, the club removed a layer of security Ogum had when they revoked his status as a management member. Instead, eighty-year-old Malik Jabir, a former player and coach of the club, was appointed as Technical Director.

While the weird structure places both the technical director and coach at the same level, Ogum's removal from the Interim Management Committee means he will no longer be in the position to influence any decision about his future.

Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum had been under pressure following a run of unimpressive results

Beyond the new structure, Ogum was made aware that while he retains Manhyia's support, the ownership's index finger remains firmly on the trigger.

So that was the information Ogum had going into the game; that one more Russian Roulette and he would be gone.

That is why Sunday's win was special to Ogum. In one move, he has restored pride - as Super Clash wins always do, and confidence in his credentials.

Aboubakar Ouattara
If ever there was a match that exposed Aboubakar Ouattara's limitations, it was this one. From line-up, in-game management/ tactical tweaks, and substitutions to the overall game plan, Ouattara got everything horribly wrong.

Right from kick-off, Kotoko cut through the Hearts of Oak defense and created the game's first chance in less than a minute. Any notions that it may have been a fluke were quickly dismissed by what followed.

Why that happened does not require any forensic audit to understand. While Hearts set out with a high line, they were strangely were not interested in pressing. If they were not fit enough to execute pressing schemes of any kind, why did Ouattara not revert to a mid-block or a low-block?

Instead, Ouattara persisted with it and Kotoko created chances for fun. The first half only ended goalless because Albert Amoah and Baba Yahaya failed to convert two easier-to-score than to miss chances, each. To concede four chances in any game is unacceptable but this was a function of the dysfunctional structure Hearts had.

Further up the pitch, the Phobians created only two meaningful attacks across nine minutes. But that was no surprise. It has been the most noticeable feature of the Phobians since Ouattara's appointment in February.

While it did not originate with him, the reality is that Ouattara has not done enough to change that either.
For all of this, Hearts seemed set to escape with a point until one of Ouattara's decisions, or indecisions, if you like, came back to haunt him. In what was the latest in an error-strewn performance, Salim Adams casually gave the ball away in midfield, and within seconds, Kotoko had the ball in the back of the net via a mix of Osei-Asibey and Benjamin Asare.

Hearts coach Aboubakar Ouattara

If the defeat was bad, Ouattara's countenance in the post-match conference was worse. He was condescending and even at some point, told a journalist that he could do the job of a reporter.
It did not end there. Ouattara went as far as touting his credentials when he said journalists could not do the job he was doing.

That sort of cockiness may have been excused if the results and performances were great.

Sunday's defeat means Ouattara has lost three matches against Kotoko in a ten-month period; twice in the league and once in the Democracy Cup.
Overall, he has managed twelve wins, seven draws, and eleven defeats as Hearts coach.

In terms of goals, Hearts have averaged a goal per game across 30 matches and have conceded 25.

So for how long will Hearts of Oak entertain this butterfly who thinks of himself a bird?

Kelvin Osei-Asibey

From hero to villain in seconds.

Kelvin Osei Asibey, who was announced Man of the Match, was involved in a mix up that led to Albert Amoah scoring the winner for Asante Kotoko in the final minute of additional time.

FT Asante Kotoko 1-0 Hearts of Oak#JoySports pic.twitter.com/rFbXfaylAw

— #JoySports (@JoySportsGH) December 15, 2024

No words.
No. Scratch that.
There is quite a bit to be said.

Since joining Hearts of Oak in July 2023, Osei-Asibey has played four matches against Asante Kotoko. Each has been characterized by multiple high-profile errors. Three of them have led to goals.

Before Sunday's match, there was no talk of this. No one remembered these mistakes because the center back has grown in leaps and bounds.

But it took only 48 seconds for him to revert to his past, charitable-defending self when he made a mess of what should have been a simple clearance. Fortunately for him, Albert Amoah fired straight at

Benjamin Asare from three yards when he had the entire goal to aim at. He recovered well to produce a man-of-the-match performance. Yet, moments after that announcement, his demons returned to haunt him when he went for a spectacular approach to what should have been a simple clearance. Better still, just leave it for the goalkeeper.

The paradox of Asibey is that he is a talented defender who has an error in him. It is the nature of these errors that exposes what the problem is; over-confidence. Or maybe he is just not as good as everyone thinks he is.

It may seem harsh but knowing which of the skillsets in your toolbox to use, is a relevant part of being a mechanic. Or a doctor. Imagine a medical doctor who uses a Sternal Retractor, instead of a stethoscope for auscultation.

That is the Kelvin Osei-Asibey problem.