Asante Kotoko ended their 10-year winless run against Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League as Cameroonian forward Franck Etouga Mbella scored a first-half penalty to register the 15th victory of the season.
The Phobians went into the game without key midfielders Sulley Muntari and Salifu Ibrahim while the home side were without defender Abdul Ismail Ganiyu, Richmond Lamptey, Andrew Apau, and Justice Blay who were all on the Kotoko treatment board.
Samuel Boadu introduced Ghana international defender Samuel Inkoom on 63 minutes as he took the place of Gladson Awako in midfield for the title-holders.
Hearts announced the signing of the right-back who has played at two FIFA World Cup tournaments for Ghana including the 2010 and 2014 editions in South Africa and Brazil respectively.
Danger-man Patrick Razak was introduced as a 63rd-minute replacement for Isaac Mensah but his presence couldn’t alter the fate of the game for the 22-time champions.
Kotoko celebrated the victory by mocking Hearts coach Samuel Boadu who is popularly known as Kofi Yesu.
Watch highlights of the game via below YouTube video