Debutant Samudeen Ibrahim scores in Hearts win

Last season Division One League Most Valuable Player Award winner Samudeen Ibrahim steered his Hearts of Oak career to a bright start by scoring the opener for the Phobians in their 2-0 victory against Nigerian top-flight Ifeanyi Ubah in an international friendly on Saturday.

The 21-year-old powered the Phobians in front with a sensational drive from just outside of the area in the 34th minute.

The Phobians secured the signature of the prodigious midfielder from Ghanaian Division One League side King Solomon FC and he impressed the fans on attendance at the Accra Sports Stadium with his Michael Essien-like marshaling.

Thomas Abbey struck the second goal for the 2004 CAF Confederation Cup winners in the 74th minute and nailed the coffin of the Nigerians.

The Phobians brought back former Board and Management members, Nii Ayi Bonte II, Alhaji Hearts, and Stephen Akwetey to the stands while the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup squad members also watched the game from the stands.

Hearts coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi named newly-signed duo of Richard Akrofi and Kennedy Appiah in central defence while Mustapha Essuman and Cosmos Dauda were also handed starting berths in the line-up.

Former Ghana international forward Samuel Yeboah was named on the bench and his introduction midway through the second-half fortified the Phobian attack and piled more pressure on the Nigerians giving more room for the Hearts midfield to articulate the Kenichi style.