Hearts of Oak were handed a reality check on Sunday, 12 September 2021, ahead of their CAF Champions League qualifier next week after losing 3-2 to newly promoted top-flight side Accra Lions FC.
The Ghanaian champions went down early in the first when Oliver Amedor opened the scoring the Accra Sports Stadium.
But the Phobians clawed back into the game with equalizer from the in-form Daniel Barnieh.
Before the break, Isaac Mensah unleashed a thunderbolt which beat Lions goalkeeper Appiah Kubi for the Phobians to take the lead.
Accra Lions FC put a brave fight and snatched the match winner through prolific forward Rauf Salifu.
Hearts of Oak will face Guinean CI Kamsar next Sunday at the same venue in a one-off tie to determine who progress to the next stage of CAF's top-tier inter-clubs competition.