2025-26 GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK VS KPANDO HEART OF LIONS IN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED MATCHDAY 9 FIXTURE

• By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh

Predictions: Home win/draw

Accra Hearts of Oak will welcome Heart of Lions in a highly anticipated Matchday 9 encounter of the Ghana Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday, 13 October 2025.

The stage is set for a cracker of a match in this week's fixture on Monday football evening.

Two points separate the two sides on the league table, with Hearts of Oak having two wins and two draws, while Heart of Lions has three wins and one draw after four matches played in the campaign. Both teams are unbeaten in the 2025-26 league, with the two sides aiming to win the title.

Hearts of Oak have the upper hand over Lions in their recent meetings during the off-season matches. Hearts defeated Lions 2-0 during the Homowo Cup on 17th August 2025, while both teams held a 1-1 draw in the GHALCA Top Four on 20th August 2025.

• The 2025-26 season of the Ghana League is the 63rd edition since the competition started in 1956, but the 29th edition since the inception of the Ghana Premier League on December 18, 1993 in the 1993-94 season.

Meanwhile, this marks the 63rd appearance for Hearts of Oak and the 15th appearance for Heart of Lions.

• The 2025-26 season is the 12th time that Ghana elite competition have been played with 18 clubs.

• 1962-63 Accra Real Republicans

• 1963-64 Asante kotoko

• 1975 Asante kotoko

• 1978 Hearts of Oak

• 1979 Hearts of Oak

• 1980 Asante kotoko

• 2020-21 Hearts of Oak

• 2021-22 Asante kotoko

• 2022-23 Medeama SC

• 2023-24 FC Samartex

• 2024-25 Bibiani Gold Stars

• Since the inception of Ghana League, 106 new clubs have featured since 1956 and only fourteen (14) clubs have won the title so far with Kumasi Asante Kotoko been the most successful club with 24, followed by Accra Hearts of Oak (21), Obuasi Ashanti Gold [Goldfields] (4), Accra Great Olympics (2), Dormaa Aduana FC (2), Sekondi Eleven Wise (1), Real Republicans (1), Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs (1) Sekondi Hasaacas (1) Berekum Chelsea (1), Legon Cities [Wa All-Stars] (1), Medeama SC (1), FC Samartex (1) and Bibiani Gold Stars (1).

• Head-to-Head since 2003 season.

• Their first league game was played on August 3, 2003 in match Day 11 fixture in the 2003 season at the then Kpando Park, Lions lost by 3 goals.

• 2003 season

Sunday, 3rd August, 2003 (Day 11)

Heart of Lions               0-3 Hearts of Oak ***

Sunday, 7th September, 2003 (Day 20)

Hearts of Oak                1-0 Heart of Lions

• 2004 season

Sunday, 13th June, 2004 (Day 3)

Hearts of Oak                4-2 Heart of Lions

Wednesday, 10th November, 2004 (Day 12)

Heart of Lions               1-1 Hearts of Oak

• 2005 season

Sunday, 8th May, 2005 (Day 5)

Hearts of Oak                1-0 Heart of Lions

Sunday, 23rd October, 2005 (Day 26)

Heart of Lions               0-3 Hearts of Oak ***

• 2006-07 season

Wednesday, 20th September, 2006 (Day 3)

Heart of Lions               1-2 Hearts of Oak ***

Saturday, 14th April, 2007 (Day 28)

Hearts of Oak                2-0 Heart of Lions

• 2007-08 season

Sunday, 6th January, 2008 (Day 9)

Heart of Lions               2-0 Hearts of Oak

Wednesday, 4th June, 2008 (Day 22)

Hearts of Oak                1-1 Heart of Lions

• 2008-09 season

Wednesday, 1st April, 2009 (Day 15)

Hearts of Oak                1-0 Heart of Lions

Sunday, 3rd May, 2009 (Day 16)

Heart of Lions               0-1 Hearts of Oak ***

• 2009-10 season

Sunday, 18th October, 2009 (Day 1)

Heart of Lions               2-0 Hearts of Oak

Wednesday, 12th May, 2010 (Day 30)

Hearts of Oak                5-6 Heart of Lions ***

• 2010-11 season

Sunday, 28th November, 2010 (Day 13)

Heart of Lions               1-1 Hearts of Oak

Sunday, 17th January, 2011 (Day 18)

Hearts of Oak                0-1 Heart of Lions ***

• 2011-12 season

Saturday, 14th January, 2012 (Day 15)

Hearts of Oak                2-2 Heart of Lions

Sunday, 19th February, 2012 (Day 16)

Heart of Lions               0-1 Hearts of Oak ***

• 2012-13 season

Sunday, 16th December, 2012 (Day 11)

Heart of Lions               2-0 Hearts of Oak

Sunday, 13th May, 2013 (Day 20)

Hearts of Oak                2-1 Heart of Lions

• 2013-14 season

Sunday, 20th October, 2013 (Day 7)

Heart of Lions               1-1 Hearts of Oak

Sunday, 6th April, 2014 (Day 24)

Hearts of Oak                1-2 Heart of Lions

• 2014-15 season

Sunday, 22nd February, 2015 (Day 8)

Heart of Lions               1-0 Hearts of Oak

Wednesday, 22nd July, 2015 (Day 23)

Hearts of Oak                4-0 Heart of Lions

• 2023-24 season

Wednesday, 8th November, 2023 (Day 5)

Heart of Lions               0-0 Hearts of Oak

MVP: Emmanuel Ofori Sakyi - Heart of Lions

Monday, 18th March, 2024 (Day 22)

Hearts of Oak                2-1 Heart of Lions

Salim Adams 50', Linda Mtange 64'//Mustapha Yakubu 45+4'

NB: Dennis Korsah (Hearts of Oak) was red carded

MVP: Salim Adams - Hearts of Oak    

• 2024-25 season

Sunday, September 15, 2024 (Day 2)

Heart of Lions               2-0 Hearts of Oak

Nana Kwame Oppong 84', Ishmael Addo 89'

Friday, January 21, 2025 (Day 19)    

Hearts of Oak                1-0 Heart of Lions

Mawuli Wayo 51' (pen)    

Total matches played      - 28

Hearts of Oak wins           - 14

Goals scored                     - 41

Heart of Lions wins          - 8

Goals scored                     - 29

Drawn games                    - 6

• Heart of Lions won their first game against Hearts of Oak in the GPL in their fifth season, that was their 9th game in the competition (January 6, 2008: Heart of Lions 2-0 Hearts of Oak) [2007-08]

• The last time Heart of Lions won at Hearts of Oak Home Grounds in the GPL is April 6, 2014 in match Day 24 in the 2013-14 season (1-2) [11 years ago].

• Heart of Lions has won three (3) times out of their 14 visits at Hearts of Oak Home Grounds in the GPL since the 2003 season.

W3  D2  L9  GF16 GA27

• Current Form:

• Hearts of Oak are unbeaten in their last eleven (11) GPL games: (W7 D4 GF12 GA1).

• 20/04/25 Hearts of Oak       0-0 Karela United (Day 28) [2024-25]

• 27/04/25 Nsoatreman FC   0-3 Hearts of Oak (Day 29) [2024-25]

• 04/05/25 Hearts of Oak       0-0 Asante kotoko (Day 30) [2024-25]

• 18/05/25 Berekum Chelsea 0-1 Hearts of Oak (Day 31) [2024-25]

• 23/05/25 Hearts of Oak        3-1 Accra Lions (Day 32) [2024-25]

• 01/06/25 Legon Cities         0-2 Hearts of Oak (Day 33) [2024-25]

• 08/06/25 Hearts of Oak      1-0 FC Samartex (Day 34) [2024-25]

• 12/09/25 Hearts of Oak      0-0 Hohoe United (Day 1) [2025-26]

• 22/09/25 Dreams FC          0-1 Hearts of Oak (Day 2) [2025-26]

• 26/09/25 Hearts of Oak     1-0 Eleven Wonders (Day 3) [2025-26]

• 03/10/25 Bechem United  0-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 4) [2025-26]

• The last time Hearts of Oak lost a game in the competition was April 16, 2025, in match Day 22 of the 2024-25 season against Aduana FC (2-0).

• Heart of Lions are unbeaten in their last six (6) games in the GPL (W5 D1 GF10 GA2).

• 01/06/25 Heart of Lions   2-1 Bechem United (Day 33) [2024-25]

• 08/06/25 Nations FC         0-2 Heart of Lions (Day 34) [2024-25]

• 14/09/25 Heart of Lions    1-0 Dreams FC (Day 1) [2025-26]

• 20/09/25 Eleven Wonders 1-4 Heart of Lions (Day 2) [2025-26]

• 28/09/25 Heart of Lions    1-0 Bechem United (Day 3) [2025-26]

• 05/10/25 Asante kotoko 0-0 Heart of Lions (Day 4) [2025-26]

• The last time Heart of Lions lost a game in the competition was May 25, 2025 in match Day 32 in the 2024-25 season against Young Apostles (3-1).

• Benjamin Asare (GK) of Hearts of Oak has kept 5 clean sheets after match Day 4 games in the ongoing season of the GPL.

• Lawrence Osei (GK) of Heart of Lions has kept 3 clean sheets after match Day 4 games in the GPL.

• A total of seven players from Hearts of Oak and Heart of Lions have scored 8 goals in combined after match Day 4 games.

• 1 goal (8 players)

- Enock Asubonteng (Hearts of Oak)

- Hussein Mohammed (Hearts of Oak)

- Ebenezer Abban (Heart of Lions)

- Paul Attah Agyei (Heart of Lions)

- Chauncey Freeman (Heart of Lions)

- Ishmael Addo (Heart of Lions)

- Macaulley Kojo Kuma (Heart of Lions)

- Michael Ephson (Heart of Lions)

• A total of six players from Hearts of Oak and Heart of Lions have been awarded 6 MVPs after match Day 4 games of the ongoing season.

• 1 MVPs (6 players)

- Abdul Karim (Hearts of Oak)

- Raphael Amponsah (Hearts of Oak)

- Enock Asubonteng (Hearts of Oak)

- Lawrence Osei [GK] (Heart of Lions)

- Etse Doglie (Heart of Lions)

- Samuel Boamah Quansah (Heart of Lions)

• Match Facts:

• Hearts of Oak are unbeaten in their Home games against teams based in the VOLTA REGION in the GPL since the 2014-15 season (W5 D1 GF10 GA2).

• 17/01/15 Hearts of Oak 1-0 WAFA (Day 1) [2014-15]

• 22/07/15 Hearts of Oak 4-0 Heart of Lions (Day 23) [2014-15]

• 09/03/22 Hearts of Oak 2-1 WAFA (Day 19) [2021-22]

• 18/03/24 Hearts of Oak 2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 22) [2023-24]

• 31/01/25 Hearts of Oak 1-0 Heart of Lions (Day 19) [2024-25]

• 12/09/25 Hearts of Oak 0-0 Hohoe United (Day 1) [2025-26]

•Heart of Lions has played 13 away games against teams based in the Greater Accra Region in the GPL since the 2014-15 season.(W2 D3 L8 GF12 GA22).

• 21/01/15 Great Olympics           3-2 Heart of Lions (Day 2) [2014-15]

• 13/06/15 Liberty Professionals 3-2 Heart of Lions (Day 17) [2014-15]

• 22/07/15 Hearts of Oak              4-0 Heart of Lions (Day 23) [2014-15]

• 01/08/15 Inter-Allies                   2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 25) [2014-15]

• 25/12/23 Legon Cities                1-0 Heart of Lions (Day 16) [2023-24]

• 02/03/24 Great Olympics           2-0 Heart of Lions (Day 19) [2023-24]

• 18/03/24 Hearts of Oak              2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 22) [2023-24]

• 19/05/24 Dreams FC                  1-2 Heart of Lions (Day 30) [2023-24]

• 22/09/24 Dreams FC                  2-2 Heart of Lions (Day v3) [2024-25]

• 16/11/24 Accra Lions                 0-0 Heart of Lions (Day 11) [2024-25]

• 31/01/25 Hearts of Oak             1-0 Heart of Lions (Day 19) [2024-25]

• 09/03/25 Vision FC                    1-1 Heart of Lions (Day 23) [2024-25]

• 27/04/25 Legon Cities               0-1 Heart of Lions (Day 29) [2024-25]

•Heart of Lions is the only club from the Volta Region to beat Hearts of Oak in a league game both home and away.

• Hearts of Oak’s heaviest defeat in League history came from a Voltarian Club and it was WAFA who gave them 5-0. The other club to score five (5) goals against Hearts of Oak in a single League match was BA United team of 1963. They beat Hearts by 5-3 in Sunyani.

•Hearts of Oak's heaviest goals conceded in a single league match came from a Volta Region club in 2010.,Hearts of Oak 5-6 Heart of lions in Accra

Samuel Affum got hat-trick for Hearts whilst Kofi Nti Boakye and Emmanuel Osei Banahene also got Hat-trick for Lions [3 hat-tricks on the day].

• Here are some of the notable teams from the Volta Region that have featured in the Ghana League:

Teams from the Volta Region:

1. Ho Volta Heroes (1962-63)

2. Ho Mighty Eagles (1967)

3. Ho Sunset (1967)

4. Volta United (1973)

5. Volta Juantex (1978)

6. Ho Voradep (1989-90)

7. Kpando Heart of Lions (2003)

8. West African Football Academy (WAFA) (2014-15)

9. Hohoe United (2025-26)

These teams have represented the Volta Region in the top-flight league of Ghanaian football.

• Hearts of Oak Day 9 Home games in the GPL since the  1999 season.

1999      Hearts of Oak 5-1 Dawu Youngsters

2000      Hearts of Oak 2-1 Goldfields

2001      Hearts of Oak 1-0 Sekondi Hasaacas

2002      Hearts of Oak 5-0 Maxbees

2004      Hearts of Oak 3-0 Feyenoord

2005      Hearts of Oak 1-0 Ashanti Gold

2009-10 Hearts of Oak 1-0 Asante Kotoko

2011-12 Hearts of Oak 0-0 Aduana FC

2014-15 Hearts of Oak 3-2 Aduana FC

2020-21 Hearts of Oak 2-0 Eleven Wonders

2021-22 Hearts of Oak 2-0 Accra Lions

W10   D1   GF25  GA4

• Heart of Lions match Day 9 Away games in the GPL since the 2003 season.

2006-07 Ashanti Gold         1-0 Heart of Lions

2008-09 Berekum Chelsea 0-0 Heart of Lions

2014-15 Ashanti Gold         2-2 Heart of Lions

2024-25 Asante kotoko      0-1 Heart of Lions

W1 D2 L1 GF3 GA3

• Let's look at Match Day 9 games in the GPL:

• Heart of Lions won the only match Day 9 encounter with Hearts of Oak in the GPL since the 2003 season.

• January 6, 2008: Heart of Lions 2-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 9) [2007-08]

• The first time Hearts of Oak lost at home in the GPL since the 1999 season was on March 24, 1999, in Match Day 5 of the 1999 season against Great Olympics (0-1).

- Since then, Hearts have played 344 Home games in the GPL.

W210  D84  L51  GF574 GA257

• The last time Hearts of Oak lost at home in the GPL was on April 3, 2025, in Match Day 21 of the 2024-25 season against Nations FC (0-1), courtesy of Razak Simpson's goal at the Tuba Astro Turf.

- Since then, Hearts have played 7 Home games (630 mins) so far in the GPL.

W4 D3 GF6 GA1

• Hearts of Oak have so far lost 52 out of 349 Home games in the GPL since the 1999 season.

• Hearts of Oak have so far played 349 Home games in the GPL since the 1999 season.

W213  D85  L52  GF572   GA254

• The first time Heart of Lions won an Away game in the GPL is May 25, 2003 in match Day 3 in the 2003 season against Stay Cool (0-1).

- Since, Heart of Lions have played 206 Away games (18,540 mins) so far in the GPL.

W40   D51   L115   GF172      GA295

• The last time Heart of Lions won an Away game in the GPL is September 20, 2025 in match Day 2 in the 2025-26 season against Techiman Eleven Wonders (1-4).

- Since then, Heart of Lions have played 1 Away game (90 mins) so far in the GPL.

D1 GF0 GA0

• Heart of Lions have so far played 208 Away games in the GPL since the 2003 season.

W41   D51  L116   GF174    GA298

• Hearts of Oak Home matches in the month of OCTOBER in the GPL since the 1999 season.

03/10/99 Hearts of Oak     2-0 Asante Kotoko

01/10/00 Hearts of Oak     1-2 Great Olympics ***

14/10/01 Hearts of Oak     2-0 Kwaebibirem

28/10/01 Hearts of Oak     3-1 Adansiman

30/10/02 Hearts of Oak     2-1 Okwawu United

29/10/03 Hearts of Oak     3-0 Stay Cool

13/10/04 Hearts of Oak     1-1 Sekondi Hasaacas

24/10/04 Hearts of Oak     3-0 Feyenoord

02/10/05 Hearts of Oak     1-1 Asante Kotoko

26/10/05 Hearts of Oak     1-0 Tano Bofoakwa

15/10/06 Hearts of Oak     0-0 Ashanti Gold

21/10/09 Hearts of Oak     0-2 King Faisal ***

25/10/09 Hearts of Oak     1-0 Kessben

06/10/10 Hearts of Oak     1-1 Berekum Chelsea

24/10/10 Hearts of Oak     3-0 All Stars

16/10/11 Hearts of Oak     2-1 Mighty Jets

22/10/11 Hearts of Oak     0-0 Berekum Chelsea

14/10/12 Hearts of Oak     5-2 New Edubiase United

24/10/12 Hearts of Oak     1-2 All Stars ***

02/10/13 Hearts of Oak     2-1 Sekondi Hasaacas

13/10/13 Hearts of Oak     1-0 Berekum Chelsea

23/10/13 Hearts of Oak     2-0 Liberty Prof.

31/10/21 Hearts of Oak     0-0 Legon Cities

29/10/22 Hearts of Oak     2-1 Bibiani Gold Stars

08/10/23 Hearts of Oak     0-0 Dreams FC

21/10/23 Hearts of Oak     0-0 FC Samartex

04/10/24 Hearts of Oak    0-0 Aduana FC

27/10/24 Hearts of Oak    0-1 Bibiani Gold Stars ***

W15      D9    L4     GF39      GA17

• Heart of Lions Away matches in the month of OCTOBER in the GPL since the 2003 season.

29/10/03 Power FC                         0-1 Heart of Lions

03/10/04 Great Olympics               0-1 Heart of Lions ***

20/10/04 Real Sportive                  0-2 Heart of Lions ***

02/10/05 Hotspurs                         0-2 Heart of Lions ***

26/10/05 Feyenoord                       1-1 Heart of Lions

15/10/06 Asante Kotoko                0-1 Heart of Lions ***

21/10/06 King Faisal                      1-1 Heart of Lions

21/10/09 Sekondi Hasaacas         3-2 Heart of Lions

03/10/10 Asante Kotoko                0-0 Heart of Lions

17/10/10 Mighty Jets                     0-0 Heart of Lions

16/10/11 New Edubiase United    1-0 Heart of Lions

30/10/11 Asante Kotoko                2-0 Heart of Lions

07/10/12 Berekum Chelsea           2-0 Heart of Lions

21/10/12 Asante Kotoko                1-1 Heart of Lions

28/10/12 Amidaus Professionals 2-2 Heart of Lions

02/10/13 Medeama SC                  0-1 Heart of Lions ***

13/10/13 Aduana FC                      1-0 Heart of Lions

23/10/13 New Edubiase United    2-0 Heart of Lions

01/10/23 RTU                                  2-2 Heart of Lions

23/10/23 Bibiani Gold Stars         2-2 Heart of Lions

05/10/24 Medeama SC                0-0 Heart of Lions

20/10/24 Karela United               1-0 Heart of Lions

05/10/25 Asante kotoko 0-0 Heart of Lions

W6  D10  L7  GF19  GA21

• October meetings in the GPL:

• 23/10/05 Heart of Lions 0-3 Hearts of Oak (Day 26) [2005]

• 18/10/09 Heart of Lions 2-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 1) [2009-10]

• 20/10/13 Heart of Lions 1-1 Hearts of Oak (Day 7) [2013-14]

Total matches played      - 3

Hearts of Oak wins           - 1

Goals scored                     - 4

Heart of Lions wins          - 1

Goals scored                     - 3

Drawn games                    - 1

• Let's look at Monday games in the GPL:

• Hearts of Oak have played 14 games on MONDAY in the GPL (W7  D5 L2 GF18 GA11).

• 10/11/03 Goldfields            1-1 Hearts of Oak (Day 27) [2003]

• 18/07/05 Hearts of Oak      2-1 Feyenoord FC (Day 15) [2005]

• 24/11/08 Saint Mirren         0-2 Hearts of Oak (Day 1) [2008-09]

• 22/12/08 Hearts of Oak      1-0 Kessben FC (Day 4) [2008-09]

• 29/06/09 Hearts of Oak      1-1 Swedru All Blacks (Day 26) [2008-09]

• 02/05/11 Hearts of Oak      3-0 BA Stars (Day 26) [2010-11]

• 10/06/13 Edubiase United 1-2 Hearts of Oak (Day 29) [2012-13]

• 02/05/16 Hearts of Oak     0-1 Asante kotoko (Day 10) [2015-16]

• 13/02/17 Inter-Allies           0-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 1) [2017]

• 08/05/17 Hearts of Oak     2-1 WAFA (Day 14) [2017]

• 30/05/22 Hearts of Oak     1-1 Karela United (Day 31) [2021-22]

• 02/01/23 Hearts of Oak     1-2 Bechem United (Day 10) [2022-23]

• 17/03/24 Hearts of Oak     1-1 Bofoakwa Tano (Day 20) [2023-24]

• 18/03/24 Hearts of Oak     2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 22) [2023-24]

• 22/09/25 Dreams FC         0-1 Hearts of Oak *** (Day 2) [2025-26]

• Heart of Lions has played 7 games on MONDAY in the GPL since the 2003 season (W1 D4 L2 GF12 GA11).

• 02/05/11 Heart of Lions        2-2 Asante Kotoko (Day 26) [2010-11]

• 23/10/23 Bibiani Gold Stars 2-2 Heart of Lions (Day 6) [2023-24]

• 25/12/23 Legon Cities           1-0 Heart of Lions (Day 16) [2023-24]

• 18/03/24 Hearts of Oak         2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 22) [2023-24]

• 25/03/24 Heart of Lions       2-2 Bibiani Gold Stars (Day 23) [2023-24]

• 22/09/24 Dreams FC            2-2 Heart of Lions (Day 3) [2024-25]

• 24/03/25 Nsoatreman FC    0-3 Heart of Lions  [awarded 0-3, Nsoatreman FC forfeited]

•The last away team to prevent Hearts of Oak from scoring at home in the Ghana Premier League was Hohoe United, who secured a goalless draw on September 12, 2025, in Matchday 1 of the 2025-26 season.

• Hearts of Oak, on the other hand, have kept 295 clean sheets in 696 GPL games since the 1999 season.

• Heart of Lions have kept 150 clean sheets out of 392 games in the Ghana Premier League since the 2003 season.

• Hearts of Oak have won the Ghana Premier League title 21 times since the competition started in the 1956 season.

• Heart of Lions' best position in the Ghana Premier League since 2003 is 2nd on three occasions - in the 2007-08 season with 53 points, the 2013-14 season with 47 points, and the 2024-25 season with 60 points.

• Hearts of Oak's worst performance in the Ghana Premier League since its inception in 1956 was finishing 14th with 45 points in the 2023-24 season.

• Heart of Lions' worst performance in the Ghana Premier League since 2003 is 14th with 40 points in the 2014-15 season, and they were relegated.                      

•Hearts of Oak are currently 3rd with 8 points after Matchday 4 games, while Heart of Lions are 2nd with 10 points on the Ghanaian top-flight log.