Black Meteors coach Desmond Ofei has praised Hearts of Oak for their impressive performance in Friday’s 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, saying the Phobians are doing “fantastically well” in the Ghana Premier League.

Ofei attended the match at the University of Ghana Stadium as part of his player-monitoring activities ahead of Ghana’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Martin Karikari scored the decisive goal late in the game, producing a stunning volley to secure Hearts’ third consecutive league victory.

Reflecting on the encounter, Ofei commended the team’s attacking approach and suggested their performances could set a benchmark for other clubs in the competition.

“It was a good game, and, yeah, I think they are now in the league. So, good for them. They are doing fantastically well, and they can set the pace in the league for the rest to follow,” he said.

Hearts created several opportunities but struggled to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Basake Holy Stars side. Ransford Mensah came close with a powerful free-kick that struck the post before Karikari’s late intervention decided the contest.

The win lifted Hearts to 17 points, placing them second behind Medeama on goal difference and maintaining their momentum in the early stages of the campaign.

Ofei’s visit formed part of efforts to assess players in the domestic league as he prepares the Black Meteors for their upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers against Libya.

Ghana are seeking to return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2004, making the identification of promising players a key part of the team’s preparations.