Hearts of Oak icon Mohammed Polo has thrown his support behind calls for the dismissal of coach Aboubakar Ouattara, criticising the Ivorian for lacking the necessary control and spirit to lead the club.

Ouattara has struggled since his appointment early this year, with Hearts of Oak suffering a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Basake Holy Stars, which has sparked outrage among fans. The loss was so disheartening that security had to be increased at the Accra Sports Stadium to protect the coach from potential harm.

Polo, who has a storied history with the club, expressed his concerns, stating, "Aboubakar Ouattara cannot help Hearts of Oak because he lacks control and the spirit to lead the club. He nearly took the team to relegation last season. He deserves to be sacked for not being able to promise the Premier League title this season."

Ouattara had managed to avoid relegation last season with a final-day victory, but his current performance has left many questioning his ability to turn the club's fortunes around.

Hearts of Oak will hope to secure their first win of the season against Heart of Lions on Sunday in Kpando.