Former Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has thrown his support behind Benjamin Asare, insisting the goalkeeper will reclaim his place in the Phobians’ starting XI once he returns to full fitness.
The Black Stars’ first-choice goalkeeper has been sidelined for several weeks after suffering an injury, opening the door for Solomon Agbasi to step in. Agbasi has seized the opportunity with a series of impressive performances, earning widespread praise and sparking debate over whether Asare can walk straight back into the team.
However, Ouattara believes the pecking order remains unchanged and that Asare’s experience and quality make him Hearts of Oak’s undisputed first choice when fit.
“Solomon Agbasi is doing extremely well, but the fact is Benjamin Asare still remains the number one for Hearts of Oak, and he needs to take over when he is fully fit,” Ouattara told Top Sports.
Asare, who established himself as Ghana’s number one during the World Cup qualifying campaign, is reportedly eager to return to competitive action as soon as possible to rebuild match sharpness. Regular playing time will be crucial not only for his club future but also to safeguard his position with the Black Stars as Ghana continue preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With Hearts of Oak facing a busy schedule ahead, the battle for the goalkeeping jersey is set to intensify, giving the technical team a major selection decision once Asare is declared fully fit.
