Asante Kotoko midfielder Baba Yahaya has admitted that Hearts of Oak will approach the Democracy Cup game like wounded lions.

This is because the Porcupine Warriors have already beaten the Phobians twice this season in the Ghana Premier League.

Kotoko won the first league game 3-2 and beat Hearts of Oak 2-0 last month.

"We beat them twice this season. They will come with a mentality that they don't want us to beat them for the third time in a row this season," Yahaya said in an interview played on Asempa FM.

"They will come into the game as wounded lions, and we won't also agree for them.

"What I have to tell the supporters is that they should rally behind us to make it three wins in a row against Hearts of Oak."

The inaugural event, scheduled for July 5, will see Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak vying for the championship title. The triumphant team will subsequently secure a chance to challenge American club DC United in Washington later this year.

This thrilling news was unveiled during the Cup's launch, an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ghana's Fourth Republic.