Can Hearts of Oak Mount a Genuine GPL Title Challenge While Struggling for Goals?
Accra Hearts of Oak’s 2025/26 Ghana Premier League campaign has so far been a tale of two extremes. At one end of the pitch, the Phobians have been outstandingly solid; at the other, alarmingly blunt.
As the first round nears its conclusion, the big question remains: can Hearts realistically challenge for the GPL title while being among the league’s lowest scorers?
From a purely attacking perspective, the numbers are concerning. Hearts have scored just 11 goals in 16 league matches, averaging 0.7 goals per game. That return places them among the lowest-scoring sides in the division—an uncomfortable position for a club that has lifted the Ghana Premier League title 21 times and is desperate to reclaim it after a four-year wait. In terms of scoring, they are only better than bottom-placed, Eleven Wonders who have scored just 9 goals and tied with FC Sarmatex 1996 and relegation threatened, Berekum Chelsea.
For a side with championship ambitions, goals are usually the currency of belief. And so far, Hearts have struggled to find them.
Defensive Excellence: Hearts’ Strongest Weapon
If goals have been scarce, defensive assurance has been abundant. Hearts boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding only six goals in 16 matches. Even more impressive is their 12 clean sheets, the highest among all 18 GPL clubs this season.
Goalkeeping has been central to this solidity. Benjamin Asare kept five clean sheets before his injury, and his replacement, Solomon Agbasi, has seamlessly continued the tradition, recording six clean sheets in just seven appearances and third choice goalkeeper, Sharif Shuaib has one clean sheet. With Kelvin Osei Asibey and Mohammed Ali marshalling the defense, the backline has been well-organised, disciplined, and extremely difficult to break down.
Such defensive consistency is often the foundation of successful title challenges. History supports the popular assertion that defence wins you titles. But defence alone rarely carries a team all the way.
Fine Margins and Narrow Wins
Hearts’ lack of attacking punch is further underlined by how their matches have been decided. The Phobians have not scored more than two goals in any league game this season. They have scored more than once in a match just three times:
a 2-0 win over Berekum Chelsea
a 2-2 draw against GoldStars
a 2-1 victory over Basake Holy Stars
Outside of the Chelsea win, every Hearts victory has come by a one-goal margin. In fact, five of their seven wins have been 1-0 scorelines, including their last three consecutive home victories.
While grinding out narrow wins shows resilience and game management, it also highlights how little room for error the Phobians leave for themselves.
One slip, one defensive lapse, or one moment of misfortune could easily turn a win into a draw—or worse.
Lack of Cutting Edge
Perhaps the most worrying trend for head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani is the absence of consistent goal scorers. Hamza Issah, the club’s leading marksman, has just four league goals, followed by Mawuli Wayo with three. The remaining four goals are spread across the squad, pointing to a lack of reliable attacking focal points.
Clear-cut chances have often been hard to come by, and when they do appear, poor finishing has sometimes let Hearts down. Many of their goals have come from scrappy situations or half chances rather than well-constructed attacking moves—hardly a sustainable model over a full season.
Can Defence Carry Them All the Way?
While Hearts are not far off the leading pack, the attacking numbers pale in comparison to some of their direct rivals. Medeama SC (21 goals), Asante Kotoko (17), and Heart of Lions (17) have all shown a greater ability to score freely, an attribute that often proves decisive in tight title races.
Hearts’ defensive platform undoubtedly keeps them competitive, but football remains a simple game: you must score to win. Clean sheets can earn you points, but goals often win you championships.
Verdict
Hearts of Oak can challenge for the GPL title with this defensive solidity—but only to a point. If they are to seriously push for the crown in the second round, improvements in chance creation, finishing, and attacking cohesion are non-negotiable.
Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has built a team that is extremely difficult to beat. The next step is building one that is consistently capable of scoring. Without that balance, Hearts may remain contenders on paper—but fall short when it matters most.