Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has criticised club supporters for prioritising European football over backing their local team.

Ouattara made the comments after guiding Hearts to their 16th win of the season, a 1-0 victory over FC Samartex in the final fixture of the Ghana Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Despite the win, the Phobians played in front of a near-empty stadium, a sight that clearly frustrated the head coach.

“Without the fans, it is very difficult for a team like Hearts of Oak to go forward, he said."

"These same fans will wake up to watch Real Madrid or Barcelona, without any link to that team, you don’t know anybody on that team, that’s my worry. We need them, we want to tell them, we need them to come because Hearts of Oak is the property of these supporters.”

Hearts of Oak finished the season in fifth place with 58 points, five behind league champions Bibiani GoldStars. T

As the club heads into the off-season, Ouattara faces the task of rebuilding and strengthening his squad. Success in the upcoming campaign could be key to not only winning trophies but also reigniting the passion of the club’s fan base.