Hearts Host Holy Stars as AshantiGold Face Kotoko
The Ghana Premier League returns with an exciting Matchday 8 programme as Hearts of Oak host Basake Holy Stars before FC AshantiGold 04 welcome Asante Kotoko for a highly anticipated Ashanti derby.
The Ghana Football Association has selected both fixtures for live coverage on TV3 and Onua TV, with additional streaming available through the Adesa+ platform.
Schedule and kickoff times
| Date | Fixture | Kickoff | Venue | Live coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 23 October 2026 | Hearts of Oak vs Basake Holy Stars | 5:00 p.m. GMT | University of Ghana Stadium, Legon | TV3, Onua TV and Adesa+ |
| Sunday, 25 October 2026 | FC AshantiGold 04 vs Asante Kotoko | 3:00 p.m. GMT | Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi | TV3, Onua TV and Adesa+ |
The published kickoff times are already in Ghana time, as the country observes Greenwich Mean Time throughout the year.
Hearts of Oak vs Basake Holy Stars preview
Hearts of Oak enter Matchday 8 with growing confidence after recording consecutive league victories.
The Phobians defeated Vision FC 1-0 on Matchday 7, with Kwesi Asmah scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute. The victory followed Hearts’ narrow success against Port City and moved them level with Medeama SC and FC Samartex on 14 points.
Hearts’ defensive performances have been particularly encouraging. Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare leads the league with five clean sheets after seven rounds, giving his team a dependable foundation from which to challenge near the top of the table.
Basake Holy Stars should not be underestimated, however. They defeated Bechem United 1-0 in their previous fixture through Bismark Teye Tetteh’s early second-half goal. That result preserved Holy Stars’ perfect home record and lifted them to fifth place.
Their challenge will be to reproduce that discipline away from home. Hearts possess momentum and an excellent defensive record, but Holy Stars have demonstrated that they can remain organised and decide close matches.
Match outlook: Hearts of Oak hold a narrow advantage because of their winning run, defensive stability and home conditions. Basake Holy Stars’ recent performances nevertheless suggest that this could be a competitive, low-scoring encounter.
FC AshantiGold 04 vs Asante Kotoko: Ashanti derby takes centre stage
The biggest fixture of Matchday 8 comes from Len Clay Stadium, where FC AshantiGold 04 host regional rivals Asante Kotoko.
The GFA identified this Ashanti derby as one of the headline matches when it released the 2026/27 league calendar. The reverse fixture is scheduled for Matchday 25.
Kotoko travel to Obuasi after returning to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Young Apostles. Hubert Gyau opened the scoring in the 70th minute before Solomon Nsor Asaah doubled the advantage 12 minutes later. Young Apostles pulled one back from a late free-kick, but Kotoko held on and climbed to sixth place.
FC AshantiGold 04, meanwhile, will be seeking an immediate response after losing 1-0 away to Aduana FC. Abubakar Adams scored the decisive goal in the 40th minute, while Akwasi Afari’s red card made AshantiGold’s search for an equaliser more difficult.
The Miners now return to familiar surroundings for a contest carrying much more than three league points. Local pride, the rivalry between the clubs and the pressure of playing before a live television audience should produce a charged atmosphere in Obuasi.
Match outlook: Kotoko arrive with renewed confidence, but an Ashanti derby at Len Clay Stadium is unlikely to be straightforward. AshantiGold will expect a reaction in front of their supporters, making discipline and midfield control particularly important.
GPL standings after Matchday 7
The Ghana Premier League title race remains tightly contested. Medeama, Hearts of Oak and Samartex are level on 14 points, although Medeama remain at the top despite suffering their first loss of the campaign in a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Samartex.
The opening seven matchdays produced some interesting statistics:
- 63 matches played
- 137 goals scored
- 41 home victories
- Nine away victories
- 13 draws
- 93 goals scored by home teams
- 44 goals scored by away teams
Aduana striker Stephen Amankona and Medeama attacker Kingsley Braye are the joint leading scorers with four goals each.
The strong number of home victories adds further intrigue to Matchday 8, particularly AshantiGold’s return to Len Clay Stadium and Hearts of Oak’s meeting with Holy Stars in Legon.
Bet on football action with Bangbet
Matchday 8 offers two attractive televised fixtures. Hearts of Oak’s title ambitions will be tested by an ambitious Basake Holy Stars side, while AshantiGold and Kotoko renew their regional rivalry in Obuasi.
Football fans can follow the action and explore available match-result, total-goals and live-betting markets with Bangbet. Always confirm the latest odds, line-ups and team news before placing a bet.
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