Asante Kotoko will face Hearts of Oak later today at the Baba Yara Stadium in the Ghana Premier League after matchday 13.
The Porcupine Warriors have won 1 game and lost four in their last five fixture with Hearts of Oak winning 3, drawing 1 and losing 1 in their last five matches.
Stats
The Porcupines have 5 wins, 3 draws, 4 loses, 10 goals scored and 9 goals conceded and at 7th place in the league table with 18th points. The Phobians sit 6th place with 19 points winning 5 games, drawing 4 and losing 3 with 9 goals scored and 6 goals conceded.
Coaches
Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum will be playing his 81st league game as Asante Kotoko head coach since 2021/22 season. Ogum has 38 wins, 20 draws and 22 losses having scored 93 goals and conceded 58 in the Premier League. Aboubakar Ouattara took over Hearts of Oak in the 2023/24 second round and has now played 29 games, winning 9, drawing 7 and losing 10 with 31 goals scored and 25 goals conceded.
Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum is yet to lose to their sworn rivals having picked 3 wins and 1 draw. In his first season with Asante Kotoko in the 2021/22 season, his side won 1 and drawn 1 against the Phobians, recording two consecutive victories in both legs in the 2023/24 which was his second season as the club’s head coach.
Home and Away Record
Asante Kotoko have lost their last two home game without scoring a goal – Losing 1-0 against Heart of Lions and 2-0 against Nations FC at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium. In 6 league games played at home, the Porcupines have 3 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw.
The Phobians in their last 5 away games are unbeaten but have recorded 3 victories and 2 draws having kept 3 consecutive clean sheets. Hearts of Oak have played 6 away games this season with 3 wins, 1 defeat and 2 draws after matchday 12 of the Ghana Premier league.
In the last 11 Asante Kotoko home games against Hearts of Oak, the Porcupines have won 3, with 6 ending in a draw and Hearts of Oak winning 2. The last time Hearts of Oak beat Asante Kotoko in an away league fixture was in 2015.
In the last 8 games (both home and away), Hearts of Oak have won 2, Asante Kotoko have also recorded 3 victories with 3 ending in a draw. 12 goals recorded in the last 8 games with Asante Kotoko scoring 7 and Hearts of Oak netting 5.
History
This is the 115th fixture involving the two Ghanaian giants since 1958 ahead of Sunday's epic showdown at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. Kotoko have 38 wins with the Phobians also holding 38 wins and 38 ending in a draw. Asante Kotoko have most goals scored against Hearts of Oak with 132 and the Phobians with 121 goals.
Key Players
Albert Amoah is Asante Kotoko top scorer in the league with 6 goals in 11 games and the second best in terms of goals in the league after matchday 12. The Porcupines will also rely on shot stopper Mohamed Camara who kept a clean sheet in their last league game against Aduana FC. Players like Justice Blay, Andrews Ntim Manu, Patrick Asiedu, Lord Amoah and Samba Oniel are available for the game
Hamza Issah is the top scorer in the league for Hearts of Oak with 3 goals in 12 matches and will start for his side. Goalkeeper Bnejamin Asare has kept 7 clean sheets in 12 league matches for Hearts of Oak with a record of two consecutive clean sheets against Asante Kotoko, stretching to his days at Great Olympics. Salim Adams, Kelvin Osei Asibey, Samuel Amofa and Mawuli Wayo are all available for the league game on Sunday.