2025-26 GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: MEDEAMA SC AND FC SAMARTEX 1996 CLASH IN THRILLING WESTERN REGION DERBY

• By: Isaac Amponsah Dr Ike and Aaron Kintoh

• Predictions: Home win/draw

The Western region derby between Medeama SC and FC Samartex 1996 is heating up at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Ghana, as part of the Ghana Premier League Week 6 fixtures on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Medeama SC and FC Samartex are set to renew their rivalry, with the memory of Medeama's 2-1 win in their last Premier League meeting, 7 months ago, still fresh in mind.

Medeama SC, currently leading the league table with four wins, including three home wins and one away win, will look to maintain their top position against FC Samartex 1996.

Medeama SC is riding high on their recent victories over Dreams FC and Nations FC, and they're looking to extend their winning streak against FC Samartex.

On the other hand, FC Samartex 1996 are riding high on their remarkable campaign in the domestic top-flight, entering the showdown with two home wins and three away draws.

Medeama SC hopes to maintain their unbeaten streak in home matches this season, scoring two or more goals in each of their home matches and conceding no more than two goals.

FC Samartex 1996, on the other hand, are unbeaten both home and away in the Ghana Premier League, with no goals conceded on the road in their two matches played away.

FC Samartex, fresh from back-to-back wins over Eleven Wonders and Aduana FC, bring a renewed sense of confidence to this matchup, having gone unbeaten in their last five matches.

• The 2025-26 season of the Ghana League is the 63rd edition since the competition started in 1956 but it is the 29th edition since the inception of Ghana Premier League on December 18, 1993 in the 1993-94 season is the 16th appearance for Medeama SC (Kessben) while it is the 4th appearance for FC Samartex.

• 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

• Head-to-Head

• 2022-23 season

Sunday, February 5, 2023 (Day 16)

Medeama SC                2-0 FC Samartex

Jonathan Sowah 50', Vincent Atinga 68' (pen)

Sunday, June 4, 2023 (Day 33)

FC Samartex                 0-0 Medeama SC

• 2023-24 season

Sunday, October 29, 2023 (Day 7)

Medeama SC                1-0 FC Samartex

Jonathan Sowah 45+3' (pen)

MVP: Appiah Kubi (GK) - Medeama SC

Sunday, April 7, 2024 (Day 24)

FC Samartex                 1-0 Medeama SC

Francis Gyetuah 37'

NB: Yahaya Adraman (Bibiani Gold Stars) was red carded.

• 2024-25 season

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 (Day 3)

Medeama SC                0-0 FC Samartex

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (Day 20)

FC Samartex                 2-1 Medeama SC

Akwasi Sarpong 56', Emmanuel Boakye 77' (pen)//Emmanuel Owusu 45'

MVP: Akwasi Sarpong - FC Samartex

• Current Form:

• Medeama SC has lost once in their last five games in the GPL (W4 L1 GF10 GA3).

• 14/09/25 Young Apostles 0-2 Medeama SC (Day 1) [2025-26]

• 19/09/25 Medeama SC     4-0 Vision FC (Day 2) [2025-26]

• 28/09/25 Karela United     1-0 Medeama SC (Day 3) [2025-26]

• 05/10/25 Medeama SC     2-1 Nations FC (Day 4) [2025-26]

• 10/10/25 Medeama SC 2-1 Dreams FC (Day 5) [2025-26]

• Felix Kyei (GK) of Medeama SC has kept 2 clean sheets after match Day 5 games in the ongoing GPL season.

• FC Samartex are unbeaten in their last five games in the GPL (W2 D3 GF4 GA1).

• 14/09/25 Vision FC    0-0 FC Samartex (Day 1) [2025-26]

• 21/09/25 FC Samartex 1-1 Karela United (Day 2) [2025-26]

• 28/09/25 Nations FC    0-0 FC Samartex (Day 3) [2025-26]

• 06/10/25 FC Samartex 1-0 Aduana FC (Day 4) [2025-26]

• 12/10/25 FC Samartex     2-1 Eleven Wonders (Day 5) [2025-26]

• The last time FC Samartex lost a game in the competition was on June 8, 2025, in Matchday 34 of the 2024-25 season against Hearts of Oak (1-0).

• Zakari Musah (GK) of FC Samartex has kept 2 clean sheets after match Day 5 games in the ongoing GPL season.

• A total of nine players from Medeama SC and FC Samartex have scored 12 goals combined after matchday 5 games.

• 2 goals (3 players)

• Emmanuel Owusu (Medeama SC)

• Abdul Salam (Medeama SC)

• Emmanuel Mamah (FC Samartex)

• 1 goal (6 players)

• Jacob Mensah (Medeama SC)

• Paul Yeboah (Medeama SC)

• Kamaradini Mamudu (Medeama SC)

• Ibrahim Nurudeen (Medeama SC)

• Osman Zackaria (FC Samartex)

• Samuel Mensah Tetteh (FC Samartex)

• A total of six players from Medeama SC and FC Samartex have been awarded MVP awards after matchday 5 games of the ongoing season.

• 1 MVP (6 players)

• Felix Kyei (Medeama SC)

• Kelvin Nkrumah (Medeama SC)

• Emmanuel Owusu (Medeama SC)

• Abdul Salam (Medeama SC)

• Ebenezer Acquah (FC Samartex)

• Emmanuel Mamah (FC Samartex)

• Match Facts:

• Medeama SC (formerly Kessben FC) Day 6 Home games in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

2007-08 Kessben          1-0 Hearts of Oak

2008-09 Kessben          0-0 King Faisal

2009-10 Kessben          2-1 Ashanti Gold

2010-11 Medeama SC  3-1 New Edubiase United

2011-12 Medeama SC  3-0 Ashanti Gold

2012-13 Medeama SC   0-1 Asante Kotoko ***

2013-14 Medeama SC   0-0 Ashanti Gold

2014-15 Medeama SC   1-0 Berekum Chelsea

2015-16 Medeama SC    2-0 Bechem United

2017       Medeama SC   0-1 Wa All Stars ***

2020-21 Medeama SC    0-0 Liberty Professionals

2022-23 Medeama SC    0-1 Asante kotoko ***

W6  D3  L3  GF12  GA5

• The only time FC Samartex 1996 played Day 6 Away game in the GPL, it ended goalless.

2023-24 Hearts of Oak 0-0 FC Samartex

• Medeama SC are winless in the last three seasons match Day 6 games in the GPL (L3 GF1 GA5).

2022-23 Medeama SC     0-1 Asante kotoko ***

2023-24 Dreams FC         2-1 Medeama SC

2024-25 Bechem United 2-0 Medeama SC

• FC Samartex are unbeaten in the last two seasons match Day 6 games in the GPL (W1 D1 GF2 GA0).

2023-24 Hearts of Oak 0-0 FC Samartex

2024-25 FC Samartex   2-0 Nsoatreman FC

• The first time Medeama SC (formerly Kessben FC) lost at home in the GPL since the 2007-08 season was on December 12, 2007, in matchday 3 of the 2007-08 season against Liberty Professionals (1-2).

- Since then, Medeama SC have played 233 games at Home in the GPL.

W152  D51  L30  GF336  GA149

• The last time Medeama SC lost at home in the GPL was on June 8, 2025, in matchday 34 of the 2024-25 season against Berekum Chelsea (1-2).

- Since then, Medeama SC have played 2 home games (180 mins) so far in the GPL (W2 GF6 GA1).

• Medeama SC (formerly Kessben FC) have lost 32 out of 235 home games so far in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

• Medeama SC (formerly Kessben FC) have so far played 235 Home games in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

W152  D51  L32  GF343 GA151

• Since the inception of the Ghana League, 106 new clubs have featured, and only fourteen (14) clubs have won the title so far, with Kumasi Asante Kotoko being the most successful club with 24 titles, 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), Tarkwa Medeama SC (1), Samreboi FC Samartex 1996 (1), and Bibiani Gold Stars (1).

• Medeama SC became the 12th new club so far to win the title when they were crowned Champions of the 2022-23 season and they would hope to replicate that this season.

• Medeama SC are the 3rd club from the Western Part of Ghana to have won the Ghana's top-flight league title since it's inception in 1956.

• Sekondi Eleven Wise (1960-61)

• Sekondi Hasaacas (1977)

• The defending champions, Bibiani Gold Stars FC, are the fifth club from the Western Region of Ghana to have won Ghana's top-flight league title since its inception in 1956:

- Sekondi Eleven Wise (1960-61)

- Sekondi Hasaacas (1977)

- Tarkwa Medeama SC (2022-23)

- Samreboi FC Samartex 1996 (2023-24)

• Basake Holy Stars is the 10th club from the Western Region of Ghana to have participated in Ghana's top-flight league since its inception in 1956:

- Sekondi Hasaacas (1956)

- Sekondi Eleven Wise (1956)

- Sekondi Ghana Independence (1962-63)

- Tarkwa Wassaman United (1964-65)

- Tarkwa Gold Stars (1979)

- Prestea Mines Stars (1980)

- Aiyinase Karela United (2020-21)

- Bibiani Gold Stars (2021-22)

- FC Samartex 1996 (2022-23)

- Basake Holy Stars (2023-24)

Note that although Medeama SC is from the Western Region, they were previously known as Kessben FC, associated with the Ashanti Region. The name "Kessben FC" was used since 2007-08 season. In January 2011, Kessben FC changed its name to Medeama Sporting Club after businessman Moses Armah 'Parker' completed a takeover of the club in 2010 and relocated it's base from Abrankese in the Ashanti Region to Tarkwa in the Western Region. The new name Medeama SC, was used for the second round of the 2010-11 football season.

• The first time FC Samartex 1996 won an Away in the GPL is November 17, 2022 in match Day 7 in the 2022-23 season against Akyem Kotoku Royals (0-1).

- Since then, Samartex has played 49 Away games (4,410 mins) so far in the GPL.

W7  D16  L26  GF27  GA52

• The last time FC Samartex won an Away game in the GPL is April 13, 2025 in match Day 27 in the 2024-25 season against Legon Cities (0-2).

- Since then, FC Samartex has played 6 Away games (540 mins) so far in the GPL.

D3  L3  GF2  GA7

• FC Samartex 1996 has played 53 Away games in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.

W8  D18  L27  GF31    GA56

• Medeama SC (Kessben) Home matches in the month of OCTOBER in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

21/10/09 Kessben              2-0 Great Olympics

06/10/10 Kessben              3-1 New Edubiase United

24/10/10 Kessben              3-1 BA Stars

09/10/11 Medeama SC      1-2 All Stars

22/10/11 Medeama SC      2-0 Liberty Professionals

14/10/12 Medeama SC      1-0 Ebusua Dwarfs

24/10/12 Medeama SC      1-0 Berekum Chelsea

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

12/10/13 Medeama SC      0-0 Ashanti Gold

23/10/13 Medeama SC      1-0 Amidaus Professionals

27/10/13 Medeama SC      1-0 Wa All Stars

30/10/22 Medeama SC      0-1 Aduana FC

25/10/23 Medeama SC     1-0 Nations FC

29/10/23 Medeama SC     1-0 FC Samartex

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

20/10/24 Medeama SC     1-0 Nations FC

05/10/25 Medeama SC     2-1 Nations FC

10/10/25 Medeama SC 2-1 Dreams FC

W13  D2  L3  GF22  GA8

• FC Samartex are winless in their Away matches in the month of OCTOBER in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.

08/10/23 Nsoatreman FC 1-0 FC Samartex

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

06/10/24 Karela United      1-1 FC Samartex

20/10/24 Asante kotoko    1-0 FC Samartex

D2 L2  GF1  GA3

• Let's look at two clubs games on SATURDAY in the GPL:

• Medeama SC (formerly Kessben FC) have played thirty-one (31) games on SATURDAY in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

W11  D8  L12   GF25 GA23

• FC Samartex has played 10 games on SATURDAY in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.

• 18/03/23 FC Samartex    1-2 Asante Kotoko (Day 22) [2022-23]

• 27/05/23 Tamale City      1-0 FC Samartex (Day 32) [2022-23]

• 21/10/23 Hearts of Oak   0-0 FC Samartex (Day 6) [2023-24]

• 11/11/23 FC Samartex    1-0 Asante kotoko (Day 10) [2023-24]

• 23/03/24 FC Samartex    2-1 Hearts of Oak (Day 23) [2023-24]

• 27/04/24 FC Samartex    1-0 Great Olympics (Day 28) [2023-24]

• 07/09/24 Dreams FC       0-0 FC Samartex (Day 1) [2024-25]

• 14/12/24 FC Samartex     0-1 Heart of Lions (Day 13) [2024-25]

• 21/12/24 Bechem United 1-0 FC Samartex (Day 14) [2024-25]

• 15/03/25 FC Samartex     1-1 Asante kotoko (Day 24) [2024-25]

W3 D3 L4 GF6 GA7

• FC Samartex are winless in their last 4 games on SATURDAY in the GPL since the 2022-23 season (D2 L2 GF1 GA3).

• 07/09/24 Dreams FC       0-0 FC Samartex (Day 1) [2024-25]

• 14/12/24 FC Samartex     0-1 Heart of Lions (Day 13) [2024-25]

• 21/12/24 Bechem United 1-0 FC Samartex (Day 14) [2024-25]

• 15/03/25 FC Samartex     1-1 Asante kotoko (Day 24) [2024-25]

• The last Away side to prevent Medeama SC from scoring at Home in the GPL is Hearts of Oak who secured 2-0 win on November 2, 2024 in match Day 9 in the 2024-25 season.

• Medeama SC (Kessben) have so far kept 162 CLEAN SHEETS out of 473 games in the GPL since the 2007-08 season.

• FC Samartex 1996 has so far kept 48 CLEAN SHEETS out of 107 games in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.

• Medeama SC won the Ghana Premier League title with 60 points in the 2022-23 season.

• FC Samartex 1996 won the 2023-24 season of the Ghana Premier League with 61 points.

• Medeama SC (Kessben)’s worst performance in the Ghana Premier League since 2007-08 season occurred in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons when they finished 11th with 40 and 41 points, respectively.

•FC Samartex 1996's worst performance in the GPL was 10th with 46 points in the 2022-23 season.

• Medeama SC is 1st with 12 points after matchday 5 games, while FC Samartex is 4th with 9 points on the Ghana top-flight log.