Kotoko and Hearts should look beyond the local rivalry of fighting over 6 points and aim high for Africa – Hamza Mohammed 

Former Asante Kotoko midfielder Hamza Mohammed has called on Ghana’s most decorated football clubs, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, to set their sights beyond domestic rivalries and focus on achieving excellence in African club competitions.

The ex-Black Stars player, known for his disciplined midfield displays in the early 2000s, believes it’s time the two powerhouses reasserted Ghana’s dominance on the continental stage.

Speaking in a recent interview on Kessben TV, Hamza expressed concern over the stagnant performances of Ghanaian clubs in recent CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns. He believes the intense local rivalry between Kotoko and Hearts though historic and passionate, is holding both clubs back from realizing their full potential in Africa.

Ghanaian clubs were once feared on the continent. Hearts of Oak won the CAF Champions League in 2000 and followed up with a CAF Super Cup and Confederation Cup triumph. Kotoko, a two-time African champion, last reached the final in 1993.

However, in recent decades, both clubs have struggled to make it past the group stages of CAF competitions, often bowing out to clubs from North and Southern Africa with far superior organization, funding, and infrastructure.

Hamza pointed to this decline as a wake-up call for Ghanaian football.

Both Kotoko and Hearts of Oak have had mixed fortunes in recent years, with inconsistent performances in the Ghana Premier League and African campaigns.

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