Hearts of Oak will begin their 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign on Sunday when they host Berekum Chelsea at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon.The Phobians have been forced to move the fixture to Legon because the Accra Sports Stadium is not yet ready to host matches.The game will mark the start of a new chapter for Hearts, who have appointed Bosnian coach Nebojsa Kapor as their new head coach. Kapor already has experience in the Ghana Premier League, having previously coached Medeama, and Hearts will hope he can use that knowledge to help the club compete strongly this season.Hearts had a relatively quiet pre-season but made an important addition to their attack with the signing of experienced striker John Antwi.The Phobians have struggled for goals in recent seasons, with their lack of firepower affecting their title ambitions. They scored only 25 goals in 34 league matches last season, a drop from the 32 goals they managed in the previous campaign.Antwi will therefore be expected to play an important role in solving the club's scoring problems. His experience and record in Ghanaian football could prove valuable as Hearts look to improve their attacking output.Their pre-season ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Asante Kotoko in the Democracy Cup in Kumasi. They will now be hoping to put that result behind them and start the league campaign with a win.Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare will also be an important figure for the Phobians. The goalkeeper had an impressive 2026 World Cup with Ghana and will be expected to provide confidence at the back.Berekum Chelsea will also begin the season with a new coach after appointing Kwaku Danso to replace Samuel Boadu.Chelsea struggled for much of last season but finished strongly, winning five consecutive matches to secure a place in the top half of the table. Danso will now look to build on that late-season improvement.The club have also made several additions to their squad, including forward Jamal Haruna, who has signed a three-year deal. Former Ghana Premier League top scorer Diawisie Taylor has also joined, alongside Awuah Dramani, Chyereme Shadirac, Fuseini Zakaria, goalkeeper Zulka Massawudu and Augustine Boakye.The recent head-to-head record favours Hearts of Oak. Since November 2023, the two sides have met six times, with Hearts winning four and the other two games ending in draws.Hearts have scored 10 goals in those six meetings, while Berekum Chelsea have managed just two. Their most recent encounter on February 22, 2026 ended goalless.However, past results will count for little when the two sides meet on Sunday. Hearts will be looking for a winning start under Kapor, while Chelsea will hope to give Danso a positive beginning to his tenure.
