BY GRACE ZIGAH
The 2025/26 Ghana Premier League reaches a defining moment on Sunday as fierce rivals Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak lock horns at the iconic Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, in what is expected to be their final meeting of the season following both clubs’ elimination from the MTN FA Cup.
Kotoko head into the fixture targeting a rare league double over their arch-rivals, having edged the first-round encounter in Accra earlier in the season.
That match, played at the Accra Sports Stadium, was decided by a controversial first-half penalty converted by Morifing Donzo, a moment that still fuels debate among supporters of both clubs.
However, the Porcupine Warriors approach this clash amid internal uncertainty and inconsistent form.
The technical bench remains unsettled after the resignation of Karim Zito, with Prince Yaw Owusu currently serving as interim head coach. Reports earlier in the week suggested tension within the camp, including resistance during training sessions, before club management stepped in to restore calm and stability.
On the pitch, results have not been encouraging. Kotoko have recorded just one win in their last six matches across all competitions, suffering back-to-back defeats, including a painful FA Cup Round of 16 exit on penalties to Aduana FC at home.
Their most recent league setback, a 3–1 defeat to Heart of Lions in Kpando, dropped them to fifth place on 35 points, leaving them one point outside the top four.
Yet, despite their struggles, Kotoko remain one of the league’s most balanced sides statistically.
They boast the second-best attacking record with 28 goals scored and have conceded only 14, underlining their defensive solidity.
Their home form offers further encouragement: they are unbeaten in 10 league matches at Baba Yara Stadium this season, recording six wins and four draws, and have not lost any of their last five home league meetings with Hearts of Oak.
In contrast, Hearts of Oak arrive in Kumasi in a more settled and composed mood. Under the leadership of head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, the Phobians have built a disciplined and well-organised side.
They are unbeaten in their last four league matches, recording two wins and two draws, and have kept clean sheets in all four games.
Their latest result, a goalless draw against Bechem United, maintained their push near the top of the table.
Hearts currently sit just above Kotoko in the standings, occupying fourth place with 36 points from 21 matches. Their campaign has been defined more by defensive resilience than attacking flair.
They have scored only 15 goals all season but possess the league’s best defensive record, conceding just seven goals.
Their away form has been particularly impressive, making them the most formidable travelling side in the league. Hearts have recorded five wins, four draws, and only two defeats on the road, conceding just four goals in away matches all season — a remarkable statistic in the context of Ghanaian football.
However, history weighs heavily against them in Kumasi. Hearts of Oak have not recorded a league victory away to Asante Kotoko since the 2020/21 season, a record that underlines the difficulty of playing at Baba Yara Stadium.
With both clubs still within touching distance of the league summit, Sunday’s clash carries major implications for the title race.
Kotoko will rely on their dominant home record and attacking strength to revive their season, while Hearts will aim to extend their defensive dominance and finally break their long-standing Kumasi hoodoo.
