“Poor Officiating Cost Hearts the Title” — NCC Boss Alhaji Yusif Laments Missed Glory

The National Chapters Committee (NCC) Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak, Alhaji Yusif, has blamed poor officiating for the Phobians’ failure to clinch the 2025/2026 Ghana Premier League title.

Hearts of Oak finished third with 54 points, behind runners‑up Bibiani Goldstars (60) and champions Medeama FC (62).

Speaking on Hot 93.9FM’s Hot Sports with host Champion Bernaldo, Alhaji Yusif expressed deep frustration over the season’s outcome, singling out the standard of refereeing as a major setback.

“We felt confident that we were on track to win the league, but things didn’t go as planned. While I won’t place all the blame on the referees, their performances were seriously flawed, and they must do better. There were critical officiating decisions that directly derailed our dreams of winning the championship,” he said.

Beyond officiating concerns, the NCC Chairman also criticised the players for failing to rise to the occasion when it mattered most, citing a lack of resilience and commitment.

“It reached a point where the players couldn’t uphold the standards expected of Phobians. They needed to embody our never‑say‑die spirit and fight through adversity for the sake of the club, but unfortunately, they fell short — exactly when we needed them to be at their strongest,” he admitted.

🎥 Watch the interview: Hot Sports on YouTube