Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has taken a decisive step by instructing midfielder Salifu Ibrahim to stay away from joining the team's training sessions until further notice, per kickgh.com.
The player's lackadaisical approach to extending his contract with the Phobians, despite his existing contract having expired, has prompted this action.
Speculation suggests that Hearts of Oak has made extensive efforts to retain the midfielder, even offering him a monthly salary of GHC10,000.
As the club resumed training just on Monday in preparation for the Democracy Cup game in early July, reports indicate that head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has prohibited Ibrahim Salifu from training with the rest of the squad.
The aim is to ensure the team adequately prepares to face their rivals Kotoko, having suffered defeat in their recent two matches against them.
Ibrahim Salifu, who joined the Phobians in February 2021 from Eleven Wonders, played a pivotal role in the club's success, notably contributing to their victory in the Ghana Premier League, ending the club's over a decade-long title drought in the 2020/21 season.
In the most recent season, the 24-year-old displayed his value by contributing two goals and ten assists in 32 league appearances for Hearts of Oak, attracting interest from top clubs such as Kotoko and Medeama SC.