2025 GHALCA TOP 4 TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK VS KPANDO HEART OF LIONS

The 3-time Champions, Hearts of Oak to host the 2-time Champions, Heart of Lions in match Day 1 fixture in the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament at the University of Ghana Stadium on Wednesday, 20th August, 2025 afternoon.

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh

Predictions: Home win/draw

The Phobians' recent victory over Giant Killers 2-0 in the 2025 Homowo Cup on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium has boosted their confidence.

Coach Bashir Hayford of Heart of Lions is determined to exact revenge against Hearts of Oak coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, after his team's defeat on Sunday.

Both teams' fans are eagerly anticipating an exciting and entertaining match, with both sides looking to make a strong impression in the tournament.

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), the mother body of all league clubs in Ghana, formed the GHALCA Top 4 competition and to be competed for by the first four best clubs in the previous season during the off season.

The GHALCA Top 4 started in 2002, and in some editions the competition was played with either 6 teams or 8 teams for obvious reasons.

Bechem United is the current holders of the GHALCA Top 4 trophy when they won the 2024 edition of the competition by 2-0 in the final game against Nations FC at the Tarkwa and Aboaso Stadium. The Hunters recorded a perfect record in the competition having won all three matches (1-0 vs Medeama SC, 3-0 vs Sekondi Eleven Wise, 2-0 vs Nations FC).

Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak jointly holds the record of most successful club with three (3) titles each in the GHALCA Top 4 competition.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE GHALCA TOP 4 TOURNAMENT BETWEEN ACCRA HEARTS vs HEART OF LIONS SINCE 2005 EDITION.

• Hearts of Oak             1-1 Heart of Lions [2005 Top 4]

• Heart of Lions            0-1 Hearts of Oak (2005 Top 4)

• Hearts of Oak             0-1 Heart of Lions [2007 Top 4]

• Heart of Lions            2-1 Hearts of Oak [2007 Top 4]

• Heart of Lions            2-1 Hearts of Oak [2009 Top 4]

• Hearts of Oak             2-3 Heart of Lions [2009 Top 4]

• Heart of Lions            0-2 Hearts of Oak [2010 Top 4]

• Hearts of Oak             2-2 Heart of Lions (2010 Top 4)

• Heart of Lions            1-0 Hearts of Oak (2014 Top 4)

• Hearts of Oak             1-0 Heart of Lions (2014 Top 4)

• NB: 1-1 aggregate, the game headed straight into penalties only to be brought to an abrupt end by Referee William Agbovi at a 4-4 penalty score due to poor visibility as a result of the non-functioning of the flood lights at the Accra Sports Stadium

• Re-match: Hearts of Oak 2-1 Heart of Lions (2014 Top 4)

Total games played          - 10

Hearts of Oak wins           - 4

Goals scored                     - 12

Heart of Lions wins          - 4

Goals scored                     - 13

Drawn games                    - 2

• Match Facts:

• Hearts of Oak won the maiden edition of the GHALCA Top 4 trophy in 2002 when the competition was given birth to.

• Hearts of Oak have won trice in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament since it's inception in the 2002 (2002, 2006, 2010).

• The last time Hearts of Oak won the GHALCA Top 4 trophy was the 2010 edition (15 years ago).

• The last time we had Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and Heart of Lions competing in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament was the 2014 edition, which Ashanti Gold won that edition.

• In the 2025 edition, Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and Heart of Lions will be participating in the competition again.

• Heart of Lions have won twice in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament since the beginning of the competition in 2002 (2005, 2009).

• The last time Heart of Lions won the GHALCA Top 4 trophy was the 2009 edition (16 years ago).

• Tournament Details:

• Participating Teams:

- Bibiani Gold Stars

- Heart of Lions

- Asante Kotoko

- Hearts of Oak

• The competition will run from August 20 to 24, 2025, and will provide a platform for the teams to fine-tune their squads and strategies ahead of the new Premier League season.

• Fixtures:

• Wednesdays, 20th August, 2025 Asante Kotoko vs Bibiani Gold Stars 3:00pm (Day 1)

• Wednesday, 20th August, 2025 Hearts of Oak vs Heart of Lions 6:00pm (Day 1)

• Friday, 22nd August, 2025 Bibiani Gold Stars vs Hearts of Oak 3:00pm (Day 2)

• Friday, 22nd August, 2025 Heart of Lions vs Asante Kotoko 6:00pm (Day 2)

• Sunday, 24th August, 2025 Bibiani Gold Stars vs Heart of Lions 3:00pm

Sunday, 24th August, 2025 Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak 6:00pm

• The 2025 edition of the GHALCA Top 4 tournament will be played in round robin (all-play-all) and at the end, the team with the highest points win the trophy.