The 2025/26 Premier League kicks off on Friday, September 12, followed by two fixtures on Saturday, September 13, and a full slate of six high-stakes encounters on Sunday, September 14.
The opening weekend reaches a thrilling climax on Sunday, September 14, when six epic clashes light up stadiums across the country. From debutants eager to make a statement to traditional powerhouses chasing early momentum, fans can expect fierce battles, electric atmospheres and an early glimpse of the drama that will define this highly anticipated season.
Gold Stars vs Bechem United
Reigning champions Bibiani Gold Stars launch their title defence on Sunday with a stern home test against Bechem United, aiming to become the first side since 2013/14 to retain the Premier League crown.
Gold Stars enter the new campaign brimming with confidence after a historic 2024/25 season in which they lifted their maiden league trophy, posting an impressive 18 wins, 9 draws, and only 7 defeats. Their triumph also secured a debut berth in the 2025/26 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, underscoring their rapid rise.
Dun’s Park proved a fortress last term, yielding 12 wins in 17 home fixtures, and coach Frimpong Manso’s men will look to extend that dominance against an opponent they have never lost to in Bibiani since joining the top flight in 2021.
Bechem United, ninth-place finishers last season with 47 points (W14, D8, L12), are eyeing a strong start of their own. Despite being one of the league’s weaker travelling sides, the Hunters remain a consistent top-half contender and have reinforced their squad with the exciting Nigerian forward Frank Promise, who is expected to be pivotal this term.
Gold Stars boast a commanding home record in this fixture, unbeaten in four meetings at Dun’s Park and conceding just once.
After four seasons away from Ghana’s top flight, Techiman Eleven Wonders mark their Premier League return with a stern opening-day assignment against the formidable Basake Holy Stars at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
The Aiyinase side defied expectations in their debut Premier League campaign last term, narrowly escaping relegation with 41 points (W11, D8, L15). Their season began memorably with a stunning 1–0 away win over Hearts of Oak, and they ended as one of the league’s more potent attacks, netting 34 goals in 34 matches.
Home form was the cornerstone of their survival. Holy Stars lost just twice home, against Medeama SC (Matchday 4) and eventual champions Bibiani Gold Stars (Matchday 20), while conceding only 7 goals in 17 home fixtures (W10, D5). Coach Evans Adjei’s men will rely on that fortress-like record as they aim to launch the new season with another statement victory.
Promoted as Zone One B champions with 53 points from 28 matches, Eleven Wonders proved their mettle by defeating Real Tamale United 2–1 in the playoff final on May 30 to seal their Premier League return.
The Techiman outfit was particularly formidable on the road, collecting a division-best 19 away points. Now strengthened by fresh talents including Daniel Lomotey, Hakeem Milla, and former Nsoatreman FC midfielder McDennis Eli Dotse, coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu’s side will be eager to translate that resilience and attacking verve to the elite stage.
This encounter marks the first competitive meeting between Basake Holy Stars and Techiman Eleven Wonders, setting the stage for an intriguing clash of proven home strength versus ambitious newcomers.
After a solid debut campaign in Ghana’s top flight, Vision FC will look to sidestep the notorious “second-season syndrome” when they welcome former champions FC Samartex 1996 to Tema on the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League.
The Tema-based side impressed in their maiden top-flight season, finishing 11th with a balanced record of W11, D12, L11, closer in points to the top half than to the relegation zone.
Strengthening their squad has been a priority, highlighted by the signing of former Asante Kotoko striker Dickson Afoakwa. However, the loss of prolific forward Frank Abrowa Duku to Hearts of Oak leaves a gap in attack.
Vision’s home form remains their bedrock: they ranked among the league’s top 10 home performers and are unbeaten in 11 successive home matches (W8, D3). After a 0–0 draw with Berekum Chelsea in their debut home fixture last season, they will aim to extend their fortress-like run and start the new campaign on a high.
The 2023/24 league champions have quickly evolved from newcomers to perennial title contenders since earning promotion in 2022. They capped last season with a W13, D12, L9 record, finishing in the top half for a third straight year but stumbled late, losing three of their final five matches.
Pre-season preparations have been encouraging, with wins over Medeama SC (1–0) and Basake Holy Stars (1–0), and a narrow defeat to Aduana FC (0–1). Ranked 7th in away performance last season, the Timber Giants will be eager to begin their title push with a first-ever away win in Tema.
The two clubs have met just once in Tema, a thrilling 3–2 victory for Vision FC during their debut campaign in 2024/25.
After narrowly avoiding relegation in their debut Ghana Premier League season, Young Apostles begin the 2025/26 campaign with a tough home test against Medeama SC, last year’s eighth-placed finishers.
Despite being labelled one of the league’s weaker home sides, the Wenchi club closed the campaign with a resilient run of six wins and four draws in their final 10 home games. Reinforcements over the off-season should bolster their depth, and they will look to turn Wenchi Park into a genuine fortress.
The 2022/23 champions endured back-to-back eighth-place finishes, recording 15W-5D-14L last term but still netting a league-best 44 goals in 34 matches. Their Achilles’ heel was away form: 3W-2D-12L, ranking seventh weakest on the road.
Medeama have strengthened with a high-profile midfield capture in Salim Adams (from New Edubiase) alongside Richard Sackey, Paul Yeboah and Ibrahim Nurudeen. After a 1-0 opening away win at Legon Cities, they’re eyeing consecutive road victories to announce a stronger title challenge.
Medeama beat Young Apostles 2-0 away from home last season.
Karela United vs Aduana FC
After a tense 2024/25 campaign that ended with a late surge to avoid relegation, Karela United will look to start the new season with purpose when they welcome two-time champions Aduana FC to Tamale.
The Pride and Passion finished 13th with 41 points last season but closed strongly, winning four of their final five matches and keeping three clean sheets. Determined to push higher this year, they have strengthened with the signings of Evans Osei Wusu (free transfer), Bless Ege (Golden Kick) and goalkeeper Kelvin Saaba.
Karela’s home form was a key factor in their survival, only four home defeats in 2024/25 (W8, D5), and they will be eager to extend a remarkable record against Aduana, winning four of their last five home meetings (D1). The Tamale-based side has also made a habit of strong starts, claiming three consecutive season-opening wins, including last year’s 1–0 triumph over Asante Kotoko.
Aduana endured a sluggish opening to last season, managing just three wins in their first 17 fixtures (D9, L5). However, the mid-season arrival of coach Aristica Cioaba sparked a revival that secured a third straight top-half finish. Away form remains their major hurdle: the Fire Club dropped points in 15 of 17 away matches last season (D7, L8).
Pre-season results—one win, one draw, one loss against Dreams FC, Basake Holy Stars and FC Samartex—suggest steadier preparation as they seek to improve on back-to-back winless season openers (D1, L1).
Karela United have never lost at home to Aduana FC in league play since 2020, registering four wins and a draw. Recent clashes at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium have been lively, yielding 11 goals. Karela won 2–1 in 2020/21, drew 1–1 in 2021/22, and followed with victories of 1–0, 2–1 and 2–0 in successive seasons.
Karela United enter Sunday’s match chasing a fourth straight season-opening victory and a sixth consecutive unbeaten home meeting with Aduana FC.
Nations FC vs Swedru All Blacks United FC
Following their highest-ever top-flight finish after gaining promotion in 2023, Nations FC begin the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League season at home to Swedru All Blacks, who make their long-awaited return to the top division after 15 years in the wilderness.
Despite an unconvincing pre-season (L3) and the departure of key players such as midfielder Abdul Karim and winger Barimah Baah, Nations FC remain a formidable side under head coach Kassim Mingle Ocansey. The Abrankese outfit has reinforced smartly, adding Faruk Mohammed (Hohoe United), Sulemana Suweidu (Dreams FC) and Abraham Odonkor (True Democracy), while captain Razak Simpson’s contract extension provides added stability.
Strong at home last term, W10, D3, L4, with 24 goals scored and only nine conceded, Nations FC will look to better last season’s fifth-place finish and avoid a repeat of their opening-day stalemate against Bechem United.
While losing key midfielder Ebenezer Amoh to Rajasthan United in India is a setback, new signing John Andoh from Soccer Intellectuals strengthens their midfield. Historically poor travellers in their last top-flight stint (one away win in 2008/09), All Blacks will hope to replicate the away form that saw them record a zone-best six road victories during their promotion run.
This will be the first-ever top-flight meeting between Nations FC and Swedru All Blacks at the Dr. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex.
GFA Communications