Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has criticized midfielder Salim Adams for his lackluster performance in the goalless draw against Aduana Stars at the University of Ghana Stadium.
Despite having a numerical advantage after Aduana’s Rich Mensah was sent off in the 57th minute, Hearts failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
Adams came on to replace striker Asamoah Boateng in the 68th minute but struggled significantly, misplacing several passes and missing a critical chance late in the match that could have secured a victory for Hearts.
In his post-match press conference, Ouattara expressed his disappointment, attributing Adams’ underperformance to the pressure he placed on himself rather than the fact that he was brought on as a striker.
“He has played this role several times, but the pressure he put on himself before the match affected his performance. I believed Salim could make a difference given that Aduana’s defense looked tired, but he seemed even more fatigued than the player he replaced,” Ouattara stated.
Adams has returned to Hearts after a brief stint with Major League Soccer side Cincinnati FC, but he will need to improve to regain the trust of his coach and fans.
