Hearts and the GPL Title Chase: Can Defense Alone Win It?
The 2025/26 Ghana Premier League title race is beginning to take shape after 22 matches, with Medeama SC setting the pace at the top, at least five points clear of the chasing pack.
Hot on their heels are Hearts of Oak, who have climbed into second place largely on the back of remarkable defensive discipline.
The Phobians have conceded in just 5 of their 22 league matches and have let in only 7 goals all season; an extraordinary record that underlines the strength and organization of their backline marshaled by Kelvin Osei Asibey, Mohammed Ali and goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.
Even more impressive is their tally of 17 clean sheets, a statistic that highlights just how difficult they are to break down.
But while their defense has been nearly flawless, questions remain about whether it is enough to deliver a 22nd league crown—and their first since 2021.
Attacking Struggles
Hearts’ defensive numbers are title-winning material. However, their attacking output tells a different story.
The Phobians have scored just 16 goals in 22 matches, an average of less than a goal per game placing them among the league’s lowest-scoring sides. For a team with championship ambitions, that is a worrying statistic.
Their joint top scorers, Mawuli Wayo and Hamza Issah, have four goals each, with the remaining eight goals shared across the squad.
Hearts have scored more than once in a match only four times all season and have managed a three-goal winning margin just once.
They have drawn eight goalless matches, the most in the league and eight of their victories have come by a single-goal margin, seven of those ending 1-0.
It is a clear pattern: score first, shut the door.
The Medeama Factor
League leaders Medeama present a contrast in style. While they have conceded 15 goals—8 more than Hearts —they have scored 32, the highest tally in the division. They have also lost just twice all season, showing balance both home and away.
The comparison raises a critical question: must Hearts sacrifice some defensive rigidity to improve their attacking threat?
There is a popular saying in football: ‘Attack wins you games, but defense wins you championships.’ Hearts appear to be fully embracing that philosophy.
In a league where head-to-head is the primary tiebreaker, goal difference may not be decisive. For Hearts, winning 1-0 has proven sustainable. Their record shows that when they score first, opponents rarely find a way back.
At the same time, their season has often reflected a cautious mantra: “If we don’t score, you don’t score either.” That explains the high number of stalemates but also underlines their refusal to lose.
The Verdict
Hearts of Oak’s defensive solidity has undeniably placed them in genuine title contention. However, whether it will be enough depends on one key factor—can they find just a little more cutting edge in attack without compromising the defensive structure that has carried them this far?
If they can strike that balance, the Phobians may well be celebrating a long-awaited league triumph. If not, Medeama’s firepower could prove decisive in the run-in.
The title race is finely poised and the final stretch promises to test whether defense alone can deliver glory.