REPEAT OR REVENGE: ASANTE KOTOKO HOST HEARTS OF OAK IN THE DAY THREE FIXTURE OF GHALCA TOP 4 

By: Isaac Amponsah (Dr Ike) and Aaron Kintoh 

Predictions: Home win/draw 

It remains the biggest game on the Ghana football calendar, spanning over half a century in 1954 but their first league meeting was in the 1958 season. Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will come face-to-face to renew their long-standing rivalry in the last fixture of the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Though the match is an off-season tournament, their derby draws huge crowds and is among the biggest in world sports. Two clubs have dominated the Ghanaian league over the last half-century that even now, when they are no longer title contenders, their derby remains a focal point in the domestic program.

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will play the latest installment in their long-standing rivalry, which stretches back to the halcyon days of independence and was often a significant marker on the road to glory.

In the 2024-25 season, the two giants have failed to have successful seasons by their own standards, but the derby still remains a massive encounter.

*The Origins*

Hearts of Oak are among Africa’s oldest surviving clubs, founded 1911, and they have famously had Sir Stanley Matthews guest for them and Pele play against them. The Phobians are from the capital Accra, where they played their football in the local league in their formative years.

The Porcupines Warriors hail from Ghana’s second city, Kumasi, and they have venerable foundations dating back to 1935. Their history tells of one Kwasi Kumah, the driver of a British colonial officer, who went to a Hearts match with his employer in the 1920s and was so enamored by the experience that he went home to Kumasi and formed his own club, which years later proved the genesis of Kotoko.

• Tournament Background:

The GHALCA Top 4 competition, formed by the Ghana League Clubs Association, features the top four teams from the previous season. The tournament, which began in 2002, has been played with varying formats over the years. Bechem United is the current holder of the trophy, having won the 2024 edition.

• Head-to-Head in the GHALCA Top 4 Tournament.

• 2003 Top 4
9th March, 2003 (Day 3) 
Venue: Sunyani coronation park
Asante Kotoko 2-0 Hearts of oak
Isaac Boakye 4', Stephen Oduro 24'
MVP: Michael Asante - Asante Kotoko
March 23, 2003 (Day 6) 
Hearts of oak   0-0 Asante Kotoko 

• 2004 top 4
February 1, 2004 (Day 3) 
Hearts of oak 1-1 Assnte Kotoko
Bernard Don Bortey 74'//Frank Osei 16'
15th Feb 2004 (Day 6) [2005 Top 4]
Asante Kotoko  2-1 Hearts of Oak
Frank Osei (brace) 35', 47'//Abdul Samad Okocha 60'
• NB: Aziz Ansah of Asante Kotoko missed a penalty on the 63rd minute. 
• NB: Referee R. I. Codjoe and his assistants from Togo were the match officials.

• 2005 top 4
Asante Kotoko withdrew from the competition on January 28, 2006 and were replaced by RTU after their match Day 1 game against Heart of Lions was abandoned at 1-1 in 87', kotoko walked off protesting a penalty decision, and for that matter didn't meet Hearts of oak that year in the competition.

• 2006 Top 4
9th April, 2006 (Day 3) 
Elwak Stadium
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Asante Kotoko
Ben Moses Ando//Gorge Yamoah 
Sunyani coronation Park
Asante Kotoko 1-1 Hearts of Oak 
George Yamoah//Kwabena Boafo

• 2007 top 4
June 3, 2007 (Day 2) 
Cap Coast
Hearts of Oak 1-3 Asante Kotoko
June 24, 2007 (Day 6)
Sunyani coronation park
Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Joe Louis

• 2009 Top 4 
30th August, 2009 (Day 2) 
Kumasi
Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak 
Bernard Don Bortey
Hearts of Oak   0-1 Asante Kotoko (Day 6) 
Kwabena Yaro 

• In the 2014 edition of Ghalca Top 4, the new format reduced the number of matches to 5 after the organizers adopted a knock-out format to be played on a home-and-away basis.

Fixtures:
• Heart of Lions vs Hearts of Oak 
• Asante Kotoko vs Ashanti Gold 

• NB: The winners of the return legs advanced to the final, meaning Kotoko and Hearts didn't meet.

• 2016 G6 tournament (Semi-finals)
Venue: Baba Yara Sports Stadium
November 27, 2016
Asante Kotoko  1-1 Hearts of Oak (5-6 p) 
Amos Frimpong (p)//Vincent Atinga (p) 

• January 17, 2018 (Semi-finals) [2018 Ghalca Top 8]
Asante Kotoko  0-0 Hearts of Oak) (2-4 p) 

Total matches played      - 12
Asante Kotoko wins         - 4
Goals scored                     - 12
Hearts of Oak wins           - 2
Goals scored                     - 8
Drawn games                    - 6

• The last two ties between these clubs in the GHALCA top 4 competition has ended in a draw and proceeded to penalties to separate them. 

• NB: The last time these sides had an encounter in the GHALCA top 4/G6/G8 tournament was way back in 2018 edition of the competition when they meet at the semi-finals on 17th January, 2018 in a Galca G8 at the Essipong Sports Stadium, Hearts of Oak advanced after 0-0 scores in a 2-4 penalties.

• Asante Kotoko are unbeaten in their last six (6) games against Hearts of Oak in all competitions when NANA APINKRAH AWUAH was appointed as Chairman of Kotoko IMC (W5 D1 GF10 GA4).

• 10/12/23 Hearts of Oak  2-3 Asante Kotoko *** (Day 14) [2023-24]
• 26/05/24 Asante Kotoko 2-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 31) [2023-24]
• 17/07/24 Hearts of Oak  1-2 Asante Kotoko *** (2024 Democracy Cup)
• 15/12/24 Asante Kotoko 1-0 Hearts of Oak (Day 13) [2024-25]
• 04/05/25 Hearts of Oak   0-0 Asante Kotoko (Day 30) [2024-25]
• 06/07/25 Hearts of Oak   1-2 Asante Kotoko (2025 President Cup)

•  Should Asante Kotoko avoid defeat today they will equal their record did between 1980 to 1982 when they went seven games unbeaten against their arch rivals Hearts of Oak. Currently, Kotoko have extended their unbeaten run to six games, thanks to their recent 2-1 win over Hearts of Oak in the 2025 GHALCA President's Cup.

• 1980
Asante Kotoko   1-1 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak     0-3 Asante Kotoko

• 1981
Hearts of Oak     0-1 Asante Kotoko
Asante Kotoko    2-0 Hearts of Oak

• 1982
Asante Kotoko   3-0 Hearts of oak
Hearts of Oak      0-2 Asante Kotoko

• 7th February, 1982 (TASK FORCE CUP) 
Asante Kotoko              2-1 Hearts of Oak

Asante Kotoko team of 1980-1982:
Top row (L-R): Coach Osei Kofi, Mohammed Ayoma, Joe Gyekye, Francis Kumi, Seth Ampadu, Joe Tex Akuttey, Albert Asaase, Kofi Badu, Sam Ampeh, Charles Oppong, Malik Jabir (team manager). 

Bottom row (L-R): Opoku Nti, Ahmed Rockson, Alex Kamara, Opoku Afriyie (c), Kofi Duku 'Tumtum', Haruna Yussif, Kwadwo Addae Kyenkyehene

• NB: this fantastic team won the league for 3 consecutive years (1980, 1981, 1982) and some members of this squad still went on to win the league and then Africa cup of champions clubs now CAF Champions League double in 1983.

• 1983 season
Asante Kotoko  3-4 Hearts of Oak
Opoku 54', 55', 60' (hat trick)//Emmanuel Botchwey 9' 32' (brace), Sam Yeboah 40', Hesse Odamtten 76'
• NB: Hearts had gone seven games without a win against kotoko and bent on ending the drought. A brace from Emmanuel Botchwey and Sam Yeboah ensued that by half time, kotoko were 3 goals down. 

Kotoko attempted a comeback with opoku Nti netting a hat trick to draw level but they were condemned to a defeat by Hesse Odamitten who struck in the 76' minute.

Moreover, Asante Kotoko longest unbeaten run against Hearts of Oak is eight (8) games between 1985 to 1988.

1985-86 league ( back to back)

1986 Sports Council Cup
Kotoko 2-1 Hearts 
Hearts 1-1  Kotoko 

1987 Round Robin (top 6)
Kotoko 2- 0 Hearts 

1988-89 league ( 1st round)
Kotoko 2-2 Hearts 
( W6, D2)

• The last time Hearts of Oak won over Asante Kotoko in a competitive game was March 5, 2023 in match Day 20 in the 2022-23 season of the GPL (1-0) courtesy Caleb Amankwah on the 57th minute.

• Asante Kotoko have won trice in the GHALCA Top 4 tournament since it's inception in the 2002 (2003, 2007, 2015).

• The last time Asante Kotoko won the GHALCA Top 4 trophy was the 2015 edition (10 years ago).

• 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).

• Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are joint record holders of the GHALCA Top 4 trophy with three titles each.

• Coach Abdul Karim Zito since his return to Asante Kotoko has guided the side for three (3) trophies already.
• 2025 MTN FA Cup 
• 2025 President Cup
• 2025 Toyota Cup in Sunth Africa 

• Hearts of Oak are winless against Coach Abdul Karim Zito in his last eight (8) games in all competitions (D6 L2).

• Hearts of Oak coach, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, since his appointment as head coach has met Asante Kotoko once that was the 2025 president Cup on July 6, 2025 and his side lost 1-2 to Kotoko.

• Didi Dramani, aims to revenge that defeat against Kotoko to boost his team's confidence ahead of the new football season. He recently won the 2025 Homowo peace Cup.

- Asante Kotoko's Status: Asante Kotoko are winless in the ongoing GHALCA Top 4 tournament in their first 2 games (L2 GF1 GA3).

- Hearts of Oak's Status: Hearts of Oak are unbeaten in the 2025 edition of the GHALCA Top 4 after Match Day 2 games (W1 D1 GF3 GA2).

• Asante Kotoko are currently 4th with 0 points after match Day 2.

• Hearts of Oak are 2nd with 4 points in the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament log.

• ACCRA MEETINGS SINCE SEPTEMBER 5, 1954:
Total games played          - 109
Asante Kotoko wins         - 37
Goals scored                     - 113
Hearts wins                        - 34
Goals scored                     - 115
Drawn games                    - 38

• TROPHY MEETINGS: 
All-time trophy meetings - 53 times but 6 of them were not Declared.
Total Trophies played      - 47
Asante Kotoko wins         - 25
Hearts of Oak wins           - 22

• AUGUST MEETINGS SINCE AUGUST 8, 1954:
Total games played          - 22
Asante Kotoko wins         - 8
Hearts of Oak wins           - 6
Drawn games                    - 8

- MATCH DATE (AUGUST 24):

- NB: The only game played between the two on August 24 was their first league game played on August 24, 1958, at Sir Francis Jackson's Park in Kumasi, but the match was abandoned in the 70th minute because Gargo Moro, an Asante Kotoko player, refused to leave the pitch after being sent off. Hearts of Oak were leading 3-0 at halftime, but Asante Kotoko scored three goals in the next ten minutes to make it 3-3. Hearts of Oak then scored again to make it 4-3.

- The League Management Committee met on the matter and decided that there should be a replay because the crowd interfered with the progress of the game, and the referee was compelled to abandon the match under the circumstances.

University of Ghana (UG) Sports Stadium, Legon, Accra will be the 12th venue to host an Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak encounter.

Below are the venues that have hosted fixtures between these two sides since 1954 in all competitions:

1. Sir Francis Stanley Jackson Park, Kumasi (August 24, 1958)
2. Accra Sports Stadium

3. Kumasi Sports Stadium 
4. Nkawkaw C.O.Y Park (1961)
5. El-Wak Sports Stadium (1977 & 2006)
6. Obuasi Hosey Park (1977)
7. Ho Sports Stadium (1979 FA Cup)
8. Sunyani Coronation Park (2006 & 2007)
9. Cape Coast Sports Stadium (formerly known as Siwudu Park or Robert Mensah Sports Stadium) (2006-07) (both league games and 1 Top 4)
10. Obuasi Len Clay Stadium (PLB Special Cup)
11. Tamale Sports Stadium (2017 FA Cup Final)