2026-27 GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE  PREVIEW: FC SAMARTEX 1996 VS KUMASI ASANTE KOTOKO

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike)

Predictions: Away win/draw 

• FC Samartex 1996 are waiting for a third consecutive Premier League win this season as they prepare to host Kumasi Asante Kotoko in a week 3 fixture on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi.

• The last time FC Samartex won three consecutive Premier League games was in the 2025-26 season, and coincidentally, Asante Kotoko were involved:
• 07/04/26 Asante Kotoko 1-2 FC Samartex (Day 28) [2025-26]
• 12/04/26 FC Samartex 1-0 Berekum Chelsea (Day 29) [2025-26]
• 03/05/26 FC Samartex 3-1 Basake Holy Stars (Day 31) [2025-26]

• FC Samartex 1996 have enjoyed their recent games against Asante Kotoko both home and away in their last three (3) meetings.

• The stage is set for a cracker of a match in this week's fixture on Sunday football afternoon.

• Two points separate the two sides on the league table, with FC Samartex 1996 having 6 points in 2nd position while Asante Kotoko sits at 4th position with 4 points.

• The 2026-27 season of the Ghana League is the 64th edition since the competition started in 1956, but the 30th edition since the inception of the Ghana Premier League on December 18, 1993, in the 1993-94 season. Meanwhile, this marks the 5th appearance for FC Samartex and the 62nd appearance for Asante Kotoko.

• The 2026-27 season is the 13th time that Ghana's elite competition has been played with 18 clubs, and below are the winners in those seasons:
• 1962-63 Accra Real Republicans 
• 1963-64 Kumasi Asante Kotoko 
• 1975 Kumasi Asante Kotoko 
• 1978 Accra Hearts of Oak
• 1979 Accra Hearts of Oak 
• 1980 Kumasi Asante Kotoko 
• 2020-21 Accra Hearts of Oak 
• 2021-22 Kumasi Asante Kotoko 
• 2022-23 Tarkwa Medeama SC 
• 2023-24 FC Samreboi Samartex 
• 2024-25 Bibiani Gold Stars 
• 2025-26 Tarkwa Medeama SC 

• Debibi United FC, Port City FC and FC Ashanti Gold made their Ghana Premier League debuts in the 2026-27 edition when they featured in the Matchday 1 games.

• Since the inception of Ghana League, 109 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), Tarkwa Medeama SC (2), Sekondi Eleven Wise (1), Accra Real Republicans (1), Cape Coast Ebusua Dwarfs (1), Sekondi Hasaacas (1), Berekum Chelsea (1), Legon Cities [Wa All Stars] (1), Samreboi FC Samartex 1996 and Bibiani Gold Stars (1).

• The defending champions are Tarkwa Medeama SC, who won the 2025-26 Ghana Premier League trophy with 62 points.

• Head-to-Head 

• 2022-23 season
Sunday, November 6, 2022 (Day 5)
Asante Kotoko          2-1 FC Samartex 
Nicholas Mensah 78', Augustine Agyapong 86'//Prince Antwi 49'
NB: 87' Seidu Abubakar (FC Samartex) red-carded
Saturday, March 18, 2023 (Day 22)
FC Samartex             1-2 Asante Kotoko ***
Ebenezer Acquah 90'//Enock Morrison 19', Rocky Dwamena 28'

• 2023-24 season
Saturday, November 11, 2023 (Day 10)
FC Samartex             1-0 Asante Kotoko
Emmanuel Keyekeh 30'
MVP: Emmanuel Keyekeh - FC Samartex 
Sunday, April 21, 2024 (Day 27)
Asante Kotoko          1-0 FC Samartex 
Enoch Morrison 60' (pen)
MVP: Enoch Morrison - Asante Kotoko 

• 2024-25 season
Sunday, October 20, 2024 (Day 7) 
Asante Kotoko          1-0 FC Samartex
Albert Amoah 30'
Saturday, March 15, 2025 (Day 24)
FC Samartex             1-1 Asante Kotoko 
Dramani Awuah 38'//Kwame Opoku 46'

• 2025-26
Sunday, November 23, 2025 (Day 11) 
FC Samartex             0-0 Asante Kotoko
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (Day 28) 
Asante Kotoko          1-2 FC Samartex
Albert Amoah 90+2'//Christian Boateng 55', Emmanuel Mamah 83'
NB: Samed Kyei (FC Samartex) was sent off.

Total matches played  - 8
FC Samartex wins        - 2
Goals scored                 - 6
Asante Kotoko wins     - 4
Goals scored                 - 8
Drawn games                - 2

• Asante Kotoko are winless in their last three (3) games against FC Samartex in the GPL (D2 L1 GF2 GA3).

• Asante Kotoko have won once out of their 4 previous visits @ FC Samartex's home ground in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.
W1 D2 L1 GF3 GA3

• The last time Asante Kotoko won @ FC Samartex's home ground in the GPL was Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Matchday 22 in the 2022-23 season (1-2).

• Current Form:

• FC Samartex 1996 are unbeaten in their last two (2) games in the GPL (W2 GF4 GA1).
• 06/09/26 FC Samartex 3-1 Karela United (Day 1) [2026-27]
• 13/09/26 Aduana FC 0-1 FC Samartex (Day 2) [2026-27]

• The last time FC Samartex lost a game in the competition was May 24, 2026, in matchday 34 in the 2025-26 season against Young Apostles (2-0).

• Asante Kotoko are unbeaten in their last two (2) games in the GPL (W1 D1 GF4 GA3).
• 06/09/26 Debibi United 2-2 Asante Kotoko (Day 1) [2026-27]
• 24/05/26 Asante Kotoko 2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 2) [2026-27]

• The last time Asante Kotoko lost a game in the GPL was May 24, 2026 against Swedru All Blacks (1-2).

• Asante Kotoko have conceded in each of their last four (4) GPL games (conceding 8 goals in 4 games):
• 17/05/26 Bechem United 3-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 33) [2025-26]
• 24/05/26 Asante Kotoko 1-2 Swedru All Blacks (Day 34) [2025-26]
• 06/09/26 Debibi United   2-2 Asante Kotoko (Day 1) [2026-27]
• 24/05/26 Asante Kotoko 2-1 Heart of Lions (Day 2) [2026-27]

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

• Asante Kotoko are unbeaten in their previous Sunday GPL games against FC Samartex since the 2022-23 season:
• Sunday, November 6, 2022 (Day 5) [2022-23]: Asante Kotoko 2-1 FC Samartex 
• Sunday, April 21, 2024 (Day 27) [2023-24]: Asante Kotoko 1-0 FC Samartex 
• Sunday, October 20, 2024 (Day 7) [2024-25]: Asante Kotoko 1-0 FC Samartex 
• Sunday, November 23, 2025 (Day 11) [2025-26]: FC Samartex 0-0 Asante Kotoko

• Match Facts:

• Ten teams based in the Western Region of Ghana have participated in Ghana's top-flight league since its inception in 1956:
1. Sekondi Hasaacas (1956)
2. Sekondi Eleven Wise (1956)
3. Sekondi Ghana Independence (1962-63)
4. Tarkwa Wassaman United (1964-65)
5. Tarkwa Gold Stars (1979)
6. Prestea Mines Stars (1980)
7. Aiyinase Karela United (2020-21)
8. Bibiani Gold Stars (2021-22)
9. Samreboi FC Samartex 1996 (2022-23)
10. 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 the 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 its 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.

• FC Samartex 1996 became the 13th club to win the title when they were crowned champions of the 2023-24 season, and they hope to replicate that feat this season.

• Five (5) clubs from the Western Region of Ghana have won Ghana's top-flight league title since its inception in 1956:
1. Sekondi Eleven Wise (1960-61)
2. Sekondi Hasaacas (1977)
3. Tarkwa Medeama SC (2022-23, 2025-26)
4. Samreboi FC Samartex 1996 (2023-24)
5. Bibiani Gold Stars (2024-25)

• FC Samartex have played 8 Home games against teams based in the Ashanti Region in the GPL since the 2022-23 season. 
• 29/01/23 FC Samartex 1-0 King Faisal (Day 14) [2022-23]
• 18/03/23 FC Samartex 1-2 Asante Kotoko (Day 22) [2022-23]
• 11/11/23 FC Samartex 1-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 10) [2023-24]
• 04/03/24 FC Samartex 0-1 Nations FC (Day 19) [2023-24]
• 29/12/24 FC Samartex 1-1 Nations FC (Day 15) [2024-25]
• 15/03/25 FC Samartex 1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 24) [2024-25]
• 23/11/25 FC Samartex 0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 11) [2025-26]
• 25/01/26 FC Samartex 2-0 Nations FC (Day 20) [2025-26]
W3 D3 L2 GF7 GA5

• Asante Kotoko have played 17 Away games against teams based in the WESTERN REGION in the GPL since the 2021-22 season.
• 12/11/21 Bibiani Gold Stars 0-1 Asante Kotoko *** (Day 3) [2021-22]
• 28/11/21 Karela United         0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 5) [2021-22]
• 29/05/22 Medeama SC         0-2 Asante Kotoko *** (Day 31) [2021-22]
• 11/11/22 Medeama SC         0-1 Asante Kotoko *** (Day 6) [2022-23]
• 16/01/23 Bibiani Gold Stars 1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 13) [2022-23]
• 02/02/23 Karela United         1-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 15) [2022-23]
• 18/03/23 FC Samartex         1-2 Asante Kotoko *** (Day 22) [2022-23]
• 23/09/23 Bibiani Gold Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 2) [2023-24]
• 11/11/23 FC Samartex         1-0 Asante Kotoko Day 10) [2023-24]
• 27/04/24 Medeama SC        1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 28) [2023-24]
• 27/10/24 Basake Holy Stars 1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 8) [2024-25]
• 05/01/25 Medeama SC        1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 16) [2024-25]
• 15/03/25 FC Samartex          1-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 24) [2024-25]
• 25/05/25 Bibiani Gold Stars 0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 32) [2024-25]
• 26/11/25 Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 3) [2025-26]
• 23/11/25 FC Samartex         0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 11) [2025-26]
• 17/01/26 Bibiani Gold Stars 0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 19) [2025-6]
• 12/04/26 Medeama SC         4-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 29) [2025-26]
W3  D9  L5  GF12   GA16

• Head-to-Head of teams based in the Western Region and Asante Kotoko since the introduction of the Ghana Premier League in the 1993-94 season.
Total matches played              - 48
Western Region Teams wins - 6
Goals scored                            - 30
Asante Kotoko wins                - 22
Goals scored                            - 50
Drawn games                           - 20

• Medeama SC, Karela United, Bibiani Gold Stars, FC Samartex and Basake Holy Stars are the only six (6) teams based in the WESTERN REGION to have won over Asante Kotoko in the REGION in the GPL since the 1993-94 season.
• 05/04/17 Medeama SC         2-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 10) [2017]
• 02/02/23 Karela United         1-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 15) [2022-23]
• 23/09/23 Bibiani Gold Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 2) [2023-24]
• 11/11/23 FC Samartex         1-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 10) [2023-24]
• 26/11/25 Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 3) [2025-26]
• 12/04/26 Medeama SC         4-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 29) [2025-26]

• FC Samartex are unbeaten in their previous matchday 3 games in the GPL since the 2022-23 season (W1 D3 GF6 GA3):
• 2022-23 Aduana FC     2-2 FC Samartex 
• 2023-24 FC Samartex 4-1 Bechem United 
• 2024-25 Medeama SC 0-0 FC Samartex 
• 2025-26 Nations FC     0-0 FC Samartex

• Asante Kotoko match Day 3 Away games in the GPL since the 1999 season
2002      Goldfields                 3-1 Asante Kotoko 
2003       King Faisal              0-1 Asante Kotoko *** 
2005       King Faisal              0-0 Asante Kotoko 
2006-07 Sekondi Hasaacas 0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
2008-09 Sekondi Hasaacas 0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
2009-10 Ashanti Gold           1-1 Asante Kotoko 
2011-12 Bechem United       2-3 Asante Kotoko ***
2014-15 BA United                0-2 Asante Kotoko ***
2021-22 Bibiani Gold Stars   0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
2025-26 Basake Holy Stars  2-1 Asante Kotoko
W6 D2 L2 GF12 GA8

• Asante Kotoko are winless in their last 4 matchday 3 games in the GPL (D3 L1 GF4 GA5):
• 2022-23 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Hearts of Oak
• 2023-24 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Karela United 
• 2024-25 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Young Apostles 
• 2025-26 Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko

• Asante Kotoko have scored 1 goal in each of their last 5 matchday 3 games in the GPL:
• 2021-22 Bibiani Gold Stars 0-1 Asante Kotoko 
• 2022-23 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Hearts of Oak
• 2023-24 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Karela United 
• 2024-25 Asante Kotoko       1-1 Young Apostles 
• 2025-26 Basake Holy Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko

• FC Samartex 1996 are unbeaten in their previous Home matches in September in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.
19/09/22 FC Samartex 1-1 Berekum Chelsea 
17/09/23 FC Samartex 1-0 Aduana FC 
29/09/24 FC Samartex 2-1 Vision FC 
21/09/25 FC Samartex 1-1 Karela United 
06/09/26 FC Samartex 3-1 Karela United
W3 D2 GF8 GA4 

• FC Samartex have scored in each of their previous Home games in September in the GPL since the 2022-23 season (scoring 8 goals in 5 games).

• Asante Kotoko Away matches in the month of SEPTEMBER in the GPL since the 1999 season.
12/09/99 Ghapoha Readers  1-1 Asante Kotoko
26/09/99 Sekondi Hasaacas 0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
03/09/00 RTU                           3-1 Asante Kotoko
05/09/01 Goldfields                2-0 Asante Kotoko
09/09/01 Tano Bofoakwa      3-0 Asante Kotoko (awarded 3-0 to Bofoakwa, Kotoko 3 points deducted; abandoned at 0-0 in 75' after a 'fan' attacked the referee)
22/09/01 Ghapoha Readers 1-0 Asante Kotoko
22/09/02 Power FC                1-2 Asante Kotoko ***
29/09/02 Dawu Youngsters 1-4 Asante Kotoko ***
10/09/03 Power FC                1-1 Asante Kotoko
14/09/03 Berekum Arsenal   0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
28/09/03 Mines Stars            0-2 Asante Kotoko ***
18/09/04 King Faisal              0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
21/09/05 Power FC                 1-1 Asante Kotoko
12/09/10 Liberty Prof.            0-4 Asante Kotoko ***
26/09/10 Ashanti Gold           0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
22/09/13 Hearts of Oak         0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
06/09/15 Sekondi Hasaacas 0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
11/08/16 Medeama SC          1-1 Asante Kotoko
14/09/16 Ashanti Gold           5-3 Asante Kotoko
23/09/23 Bibiani Gold  Stars 2-1 Asante Kotoko     
08/09/24 Karela United          0-1 Asante Kotoko *** 
29/09/24 Berekum Chelsea   1-1 Asante Kotoko 
13/09/25 Berekum Chelsea   0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
06/09/26 Debibi United          2-2 Asante Kotoko 
W11   D6    L6   GF32   GA25

• Asante Kotoko are unbeaten in their last 4 Away matches in September in the GPL (W2 D2 GF5 GA3):
08/09/24 Karela United          0-1 Asante Kotoko *** 
29/09/24 Berekum Chelsea   1-1 Asante Kotoko 
13/09/25 Berekum Chelsea   0-1 Asante Kotoko ***
06/09/26 Debibi United          2-2 Asante Kotoko 
W11   D6    L6   GF32   GA25

• Asante Kotoko have scored in each of their last 18 Away matches in September in the GPL (scoring 29 goals in 18 games).

• The last away team to prevent FC Samartex 1996 from scoring at home in the Ghana Premier League was Dreams FC, who secured a goalless draw on March 7, 2026, in Match Day 25 of the 2025-26 season.

• FC Samartex 1996 has so far kept 64 CLEAN SHEETS out of 138 games in the GPL since the 2022-23 season.

• Asante Kotoko have kept 328 clean sheets out of 726 games in the GPL since the 1999 season.
    
• FC Samartex 1996 won the 2023-24 season of the Ghana Premier League with 61 points.

• Asante Kotoko have won the Ghana league title on 24 occasions since the competition started in 1956.
 
• FC Samartex 1996 worse performance in the GPL is 10th with 46 points in the 2022-23 season.
 
• Asante Kotoko's worst performance in the Ghana league since 1956 was 11th place out of a 15-club league in the 1970 season.              

• FC Samartex 1996 are currently 2nd with 6 points after 2 matchdays, while Asante Kotoko, on the other hand, are 4th with 4 points on the Ghanaian top-flight log.