Accra Hearts of Oak begin another attempt to restore themselves to the summit of Ghana football tomorrow, when a rebuilt Phobian side under Nebojsa Kapor face Berekum Chelsea at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in one of the headline fixtures of the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League.
Six seasons have passed since Hearts last lifted the championship as part of the domestic double engineered by Samuel Boadu in 2020/21.
Three expatriate coaches and two local managers have since tried to return the club to those heights without success.
Now the task falls to Kapor, and his first league examination comes barely a week after Hearts suffered defeat to arch-rivals Asante Kotoko in the Democracy Cup.
Victory tomorrow would, therefore, carry significance beyond three opening-day points, as it would ease some of the frustration among supporters, give credibility to another ambitious rebuilding project and offer an early indication of whether Hearts can finally transform expectation into a genuine title challenge.
The Phobians have invested heavily in refreshing their squad, bringing in Abdul Aziz from Swedru All Blacks, midfielder Ebenezer Amoh, PAC Academy duo Rockson Kyeremeh and Manuel Osei Djan, Caleb Koranteng from Victory Club Warriors and Alex Banso from Nomoro FC.
Prince Amevor, goalkeeper Vicente Anane, Ivorian forward Mamadou Kader Kourouma, Dominic Nsobila and experienced striker John Antwi from Dreams FC have also joined a recruitment drive designed to end the club’s prolonged championship drought.
Kapor’s immediate challenge is how quickly he can blend those arrivals with established players such as Kevin Osei Assibey, Baba Adamu, Ali Mohammed, Ranford Mensah, Raphael Amponsah and Hamza Issah. Captain Benjamin Asare remains with Hearts despite swirling transfer speculation and is expected to start in goal tomorrow, providing experience and stability behind a side still taking shape.
History favours Hearts
If Kapor needs encouragement, the history of this fixture provides a lot. Tomorrow’s contest will be the 23rd Premier League meeting between Hearts and Chelsea, with the Phobians holding a commanding advantage.
Hearts have won 12 of the previous encounters and scored 27 goals, compared with Chelsea’s five victories and 15 goals.
The numbers become even more emphatic in Accra. Of their 11 previous league meetings in the capital, Hearts have won eight, Chelsea just one, with the other two ending in draws.
Kapor will expect that dominance to continue, although he knows Chelsea well enough to recognise the danger.
The Serbian tactician may be starting his first season with the Phobians, but he is no stranger to Ghanaian football, having previously encountered Chelsea side during spells in charge of Medeama SC and Bechem United.
Chelsea arrive in Accra with rebuilding ambitions of their own after an underwhelming campaign last season ended with a seventh-place finish. Former CAF Champions League campaigners and Ghanaian champions in 2010/11, the Berekum side have placed their new project in the hands of Kwaku Danso, whose squad has strengthened their squad with experienced midfielder Diawisie Taylor, signed on a free transfer from Medeama, as well as Paul Atta Agyei, Zakaria Fuseini from Asante Kotoko and young goalkeeper Zulka Massawudu from Young Apostles.
For Hearts, however, the stakes feel heavier. After another trophyless league campaign and last week’s Democracy Cup disappointment, their supporters will want more than promises of reconstruction.
Kotoko begin chase at Debibi
Elsewhere, Asante Kotoko will attempt to carry the momentum from their Democracy Cup triumph into the league when they travel to the Golden City Park to face newly-promoted Debibi United.
The Porcupine Warriors are themselves chasing a first league title in five seasons and begin the campaign under South African coach Eric Tinkler, who has overseen a major overhaul of the squad.
Kotoko’s new arrivals include goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim, forward Emmanuel Mamah, Ivorian Koffi Marius Ange Bini, Isaac Opoku Agyemang and Burkinabe midfielder Abdoul Kader Tarnagda.
Camerounian Solomon Nsor Asaah has joined from Fortuna de Mfou, alongside Moroccan goalkeeper Abdel Wadie Mourad, defender Umar Ali from Partizani, Emmanuel Sanja from Vision FC, DR Congo centre-back Aristote Tamuzi, Ivorian winger Eric Gbetta and midfielder Richard Boadu Agadas.
After getting the better of Hearts last week, Tinkler will now be expected to translate that early statement into league points against the Premier League newcomers determined to make their Golden City Park memorable.
New boys collide
The opening weekend also throws up an intriguing all-debutants contest at the Nana Boamah Darko II Park, where FC Ashantigold 04 face Port City FC.
Ashantigold 04 are expected to look to William Addo for goals after the striker finished as the 2025/26 Division One League’s leading scorer with 23 goals for Dormaa Unity FC.
At the AAK II Sports Arena, Basake Holy Stars welcome Swedru All Blacks, while Karela United travel to the Nsenkyire Sports Arena to face FC Samartex 1996.
Kpando Heart of Lions host Aduana FC at the Kpando Sports Stadium, with Bechem United entertaining Gold Stars FC at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
The scheduled meeting between defending champions Medeama SC and Dreams FC at the Tuba Astro Turf Park has meanwhile been postponed because of Medeama’s CAF Champions League assignment.
