Hearts of Oak will aim to tighten their grip on the 2025 Ghana Premier League title race when they host FC Samartex 1996 at the University of Ghana Stadium on Boxing Day, Friday, December 26, in what promises to be a cagey, tactical contest.
The Phobians come into the clash buoyed by a hard-earned 0–0 draw away to Aduana FC in Dormaa, a result that reinforced their credentials as one of the league’s toughest teams to break down.
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani’s side remain inside the top four, driven largely by a miserly defence that has conceded just six goals in 15 matches, the best record in the league.
Hearts have lost only once in their last five outings (W2, D2), keeping four clean sheets in the process.
While their home form has been steady rather than spectacular, recent narrow wins have raised confidence, with the Phobians chasing a third straight home victory without conceding.
History is firmly on their side. Samartex have never beaten Hearts in Accra and are yet to score there, managing only two goalless draws and a defeat since their promotion.
Samartex, meanwhile, arrive just a point behind Hearts in sixth place after edging Heart of Lions 1–0 in Samreboi.
Christopher Ennin’s men boast one of the league’s tightest backlines, but their struggles on the road remain glaring. They are winless away this season, with just one goal scored in seven matches.
With both sides built on defensive discipline and separated by a single point, Friday’s encounter sets up as a tense duel.
Hearts looking to make home advantage count, and Samartex desperate to finally find a breakthrough in the capital.
