Matchday 8 of the Premier League promises another round of thrilling encounters on Sunday, with several key storylines set to unfold across the country.
Asante Kotoko will look to extend their unbeaten start to the season when they host Karela United in Kumasi, while Dreams FC seek redemption against an in-form FC Samartex 1996 in Tuba. In Swedru, newly promoted All Blacks brace for a stern test against high-flying Heart of Lions and giants Hearts of Oak aim to return to winning ways as they face struggling Basake Holy Stars.
Asante Kotoko vs Kaela United
Asante Kotoko will be determined to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season when they welcome Karela United to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
The Porcupine Warriors return to domestic action after bowing out of the CAF Confederation Cup at the hands of Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca. Despite their continental setback, Kotoko remain one of the league’s toughest sides to beat and will be eager to shift their focus back to local dominance.
Currently sitting 10th on the table with eight points, Kotoko have played fewer games than most of their rivals, with three matches in hand against Basake Holy Stars, Young Apostles and Vision FC. Under coach Abdul Karim Zito, the team has been defensively solid, the only side yet to concede a goal this season and one of just three clubs still unbeaten after Matchday 7.
The Kumasi-based giants have been near-perfect at home, winning one and drawing one of their two league fixtures at the Baba Yara Stadium this season. Remarkably, they are unbeaten in their last 13 home league games (W11, D2), a record they will be eager to protect on Sunday as they look to climb further up the table.
Karela United head into the encounter buoyed by a 2–0 home win over Bechem United last weekend, ending a three-game winless run (D2, L1). The victory lifted them to 7th place on the standings with 12 points, having scored seven goals and conceded six so far.
However, Karela’s away form remains a major concern. The Tamale-based side is still searching for its first away win of the campaign, managing just two draws and one defeat in their three trips on the road. Their struggles away from home extend further — with only one win in their last 14 away league matches (D4, L10) — a record they’ll be desperate to improve when they visit Kumasi.
Head-to-Head
Asante Kotoko remain unbeaten at home against Karela United in the league since 2020, winning twice and drawing three of their five meetings.
Dreams FC vs FC Samartex 1996
Dreams FC will be aiming to halt their poor run of form when they welcome an in-form FC Samartex 1996 to the Tuba AstroTurf on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in an intriguing Ghana Premier League encounter.
The Still Believe lads are enduring a difficult campaign and head into the fixture on the back of a narrow 1–0 defeat to Aduana FC last weekend. That loss, their fifth of the season, leaves them languishing in 16th place in the relegation zone with just four points from seven matches.
Dreams have managed only one win and one draw so far, scoring five goals while conceding eight, the joint third-worst defensive record in the league. Despite their struggles, the Dawu-based side will take solace from their impressive home resilience. They remain unbeaten in their last 13 matches (W10, D3) at the Tuba AstroTurf across all competitions, a run they’ll be determined to extend against Samartex.
Historically, Dreams have enjoyed dominance at home in this fixture, having never lost to FC Samartex in the league since the Timber Giants’ promotion in 2022.
Their opponents, FC Samartex 1996, come into the game brimming with confidence after a 2–0 victory over Hohoe United last weekend. That result stretched their unbeaten streak to seven league matches (W3, D4) and ten across all competitions (W6, D4), underlining their consistency this season.
Currently sitting 4th on the league table with 13 points, just three adrift of top spot, Christopher Ennin’s side have been one of the league’s most organized outfits. The 2023/24 champions have scored seven goals and conceded only three, the second-best defensive record in the division.
However, Samartex’s form away from home has been less convincing. They have drawn all three of their away fixtures this season, managing just one goal in those matches. Sunday’s clash, therefore, presents both an opportunity and a challenge, to maintain their unbeaten run and secure their first-ever away victory over Dreams FC in the Premier League.
Head-t0-Head
Since the 2022/23 season, Dreams FC have hosted FC Samartex 1996 three times in the league, recording one win and two draws (W1, D2).
Swedru All Blacks vs Heart of Lions
Premier League returnees Swedru All Blacks will have their resilience tested when they welcome in-form Heart of Lions to the Swedru Stadium on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in what promises to be a fiercely contested Premier League match.
The Swedru-based side have endured a difficult return to top-flight football following their promotion, managing just two wins and five defeats from their opening seven matches, the joint-most losses in the division. They have scored seven goals while conceding eight, the joint third-highest in the league, leaving them in 13th position on the table with six points, just two above the relegation zone.
Despite their struggles overall, Swedru All Blacks have been impressive on home turf. They rank among the league’s stronger home performers with two wins and one defeat, scoring five goals and conceding only once in three games at Swedru. Head coach Ahmed Ibrahim Fathi will be keen to capitalize on that solid home form as his side seeks to secure a much-needed third league victory of the season.
However, the pressure continues to mount on Fathi, whose future could come under scrutiny should results fail to improve, especially in a campaign that has already seen the departures of Frimpong Manso (Gold Stars FC) and Kassim Mingle Ocansey (Nations FC) from their managerial posts.
Heart of Lions travel to Swedru in buoyant spirits after ending a three-game winless streak with an emphatic 3–0 home victory over Basake Holy Stars on Friday. That result lifted the Kpando-based side to third place on the league table with 14 points, just two adrift of the summit.
Under veteran tactician Bashir Hayford, the Lions have rediscovered their attacking edge, boasting the second-best scoring record in the league with 10 goals, while maintaining one of the most disciplined defenses, having conceded only four.
Lions’ form away from home has also been commendable. They rank as the second-best travelling side in the league (W1, D2, L1) and will be eager to build on that as they chase back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
With Swedru All Blacks banking on their home strength and Heart of Lions in red-hot form, Sunday’s clash promises to be a thrilling encounter — one that could have significant implications for both ends of the Ghana Premier League table.
Bibiani Gold Stars vs Young Apostles
Champions Bibiani Gold Stars will look to extend their unbeaten streak when they host an inspired Young Apostles side at the Dun’s Park on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
After a shaky start to the campaign, Gold Stars FC have rediscovered their rhythm, bouncing back strongly from consecutive defeats earlier in the season. The Miners suffered back-to-back losses against Asante Kotoko (matchday two) and Vision FC (matchday five), failing to score in both encounters. However, since that setback, they have gone three games unbeaten, registering two victories and a thrilling 2–2 draw away to Hearts of Oak last weekend, a match in which they led 2–1 before the Phobians salvaged a point.
Currently sitting 6th on the league table with 13 points from seven matches, Nana Yaw Amankwah's men boast the joint-third highest goals scored (9) but have also conceded nine, the second-most in the division, a defensive vulnerability they will aim to address on Sunday.
Gold Stars have been nearly untouchable at home this season, maintaining a 100% winning record (W3) at Dun’s Park. Their attacking flair and high pressing have turned Bibiani into a fortress, and they will be determined to secure a fourth straight home win, a milestone they last achieved in October 2024.
Young Apostles have been one of the standout performers of the Premier League season. The Wenchi-based outfit sit just two places and two points below Gold Stars, having put together an impressive five-match unbeaten run (W3, D2), their longest since gaining promotion to the top flight in September 2024.
Under the guidance of Coach Abdul Henan, the Apostles have demonstrated both resilience and tactical discipline, scoring seven goals and conceding just five in six league appearances. They have suffered only one defeat all season and remain unbeaten on the road, ranking as the third-best away team despite playing fewer away matches so far (W1, D1). With a game in hand against Asante Kotoko still to come, Young Apostles could climb even higher if their fine form continues.
The visitors will head into Sunday’s fixture brimming with confidence as they seek to sustain their remarkable start and upset the defending champions on their home turf.
Head-to-Head
This will be the second league meeting between the two sides. The only previous encounter at Dun’s Park ended in a 1–0 win for Bibiani Gold Stars, giving the champions a slight psychological edge heading into the weekend’s clash.
Basake Holy Stars vs Hearts of Oak
Premier League title contenders Hearts of Oak will aim to return to winning ways when they travel to the AAK II Sports Arena to face bottom-placed Basake Holy Stars on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in a crucial Premier League match.
It has been a nightmare start to life in the top flight for Basake Holy Stars, who remain winless after six league matches (D2, L4). They have lost their last four consecutive games, conceding nine goals without reply, including a crushing 3–0 defeat to Heart of Lions last Friday, their heaviest loss of the campaign. They sit rock bottom of the league table with just two points and are the only team yet to score a goal this season, while their nine goals conceded rank as the joint second-highest in the division.
Despite their struggles, Holy Stars return home for the first time in a month and will look to draw inspiration from their surprisingly strong home record. They are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W4, D2), and their first point of the current season was earned at the same venue. With an outstanding fixture against Asante Kotoko still to be played, the Aiyinase club will be desperate to use their return to home soil as a springboard to end their poor run and secure their first-ever win of the season.
For Hearts of Oak, a frustrating 2–2 draw against defending champions Bibiani Gold Stars last weekend denied them a fourth win of the campaign, despite coming from behind to salvage a point. Still, Mas-Ud Didi Dramani’s side remain one of the league’s most consistent performers, unbeaten this season (W3, D4) and currently fifth on the table with 13 points from seven matches.
The Phobians boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just two goals, and also hold the longest active unbeaten run in the Premier League, 14 matches without defeat (W8, D6), stretching back to last season. On the road, they have been formidable, winning two and drawing one of their three away games this season without conceding a goal, a testament to their organisation and discipline under Dramani.
Head-to-head:
Basake Holy Stars and Hearts of Oak have met once at the AAK II Sports Arena since Holy Stars’ promotion to the Premier League in 2024, with the encounter ending in a goalless draw.
Berekum Chelsea vs Vision FC
Berekum Chelsea will look to turn their fortunes around when they host Vision FC at the Golden City Park on Sunday.
It has been a turbulent start to the season for Samuel Boadu’s men, who have struggled to find form and consistency. Chelsea have dropped points in four of their last five matches (D2, L2) and managed just one win in seven league outings so far. With only 5 points on the board, they sit 15th on the league table, hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone.
The Blues have scored just four goals, the joint-second lowest tally in the division, while conceding nine, also the joint-second highest. Their home form has been equally concerning, with one win and two defeats from three games at the Golden City Park. Their only victory of the season came there, a 2–0 triumph over Basake Holy Stars on Matchday 4 — which also remains their sole clean sheet of the campaign.
With a four-game winless streak hanging over them, Boadu will be urging his players to produce a more disciplined defensive display and rediscover their scoring touch. A positive result on Sunday could prove crucial in reviving Chelsea’s campaign and easing the growing pressure on the team.
Their opponents, Vision FC, head into the tie in 11th place with 8 points from six matches (W2, D2, L2) and still have a game in hand following the postponement of their Matchday 7 fixture against Asante Kotoko due to the latter’s continental commitments.
Under head coach Nana Agyemang, Vision FC have been competitive and organized at home but continue to struggle on the road. They are winless in three away games this season (D1, L2), scoring only one goal while conceding seven — all of which have come in away fixtures. The Tema-based side will therefore be determined to end their poor away run and secure what would be their third away league victory since September 2024.
Head-to-Head
Berekum Chelsea and Vision FC have met once at the Golden City Park since Vision’s promotion to the Premier League, with Chelsea winning 1–0 in that encounter.
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