Hearts of Oak's head coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, has pointed to external influences attempting to sway his players' focus as a factor in the team's recent challenges in the Ghana Premier League.

The Phobians halted their losing streak with a commanding 3-0 win over Berekum Chelsea on matchday 25 of Ghana's top-tier league. This victory served as a significant boost for Ouattara's squad, which had faced five losses in their previous six matches.

Goals from Hamza Issah, Linda Mtange, and Kassim Cisse were instrumental in securing the crucial three points for the team based in Accra.

Post-match, Ouattara expressed his anticipation of victory, saying, "I expected to win. In football, victories can come with scores of 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0, but what's important is that we needed the points."

Addressing the mental state of his team, he remarked, "I've mentioned before that we were dealing with a mental issue. There are individuals attempting to influence the mindset of our players... it's a psychological challenge."

"The players are beginning to realize this because there are those who wish to disrupt their focus, but they are starting to understand that it's merely a psychological issue," the coach elaborated.

Following this win, Hearts of Oak have climbed from the 13th to the 11th spot on the league table, now just two points shy of the 10th placed Asante Kotoko.

JNA/NOQ