“Didi Dramani’s appointment is a major blunder” – Aboubakar Ouattara criticises Hearts of Oak board

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Jun 24, 2025

Outgoing Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has criticised the club’s decision to appoint a new head coach without informing him.

Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has been named the new head coach of the Accra-based club ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the announcement made on Friday, 20th June 2025.

The former Black Stars assistant coach has signed a two-year contract with Hearts of Oak, marking his return to the Premier League dugout for the first time since 2014.

However, Ouattara, who has led Hearts of Oak for the past two seasons, has strongly condemned the club’s handling of the appointment.

According to the Ivorian tactician, the management failed to consult or notify him prior to finalising the deal, which he described as a serious administrative error.

“You cannot appoint a new coach while another is still in place. It is a significant administrative mistake,” he said in an exclusive interview with Oyerepa FM.

“If you wish to bring in a new coach, the proper thing is to speak with me — but instead, they ignored me completely,” he added.

Following Dramani’s appointment, Ouattara has been reassigned to the role of Special Advisor to the club’s Board of Directors.

Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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