The Super Clash stadium atmosphere
Ghana's Greatest Rivalry

THE SUPER CLASH

A

Asante Kotoko

Kumasi
VS
bolt
H

Hearts of Oak

Accra
event

Next match

2026-05-10 (tentative) · Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi

16:00 GMT

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RIVALRY IN 60s

Historical Record

119

Total competitive meetings

41 Kotoko W
40 Draws
38 Hearts W

Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak is the fixture that stops Ghana. On Super Clash weekend traffic thins in Kumasi and Accra as fans travel, taxis refuse fares in the wrong colours, and WhatsApp group names change to display flags. It is the oldest continuously running derby in West Africa — first played in 1958 — and has grown into a rivalry where football is only the surface.

The deeper layer is geography and identity. Kotoko is the pride of the Ashanti Kingdom — Kumasi-based, red-and-white, backed publicly by the Asantehene. Hearts is the club of coastal Accra — Ga-speaking, purple and yellow, backed historically by the Ga Mantse and waves of political support. When these sides meet, the stadium chants include lines that have nothing to do with football.

All-time record across GPL, Ghana FA Cup, Super Cup, President's Cup, and friendlies (per Ghana FA records through the 120th-meeting preview in 2026). Kotoko hold a narrow edge on wins.

LEGENDARY SCORERS

The heroes who defined the derby across generations.

O
Asante Kotoko

Opoku Afriyie

Goals

1970s–1980s
M
Hearts of Oak

Mohammed Polo

Goals

1973–1992 (three spells)

ALL-TIME RANKING

Ishmael Addo Hearts of Oak

MEMORABLE NIGHTS

2001 · MODERN-ERA HEARTS ROUT

Hearts 4–2 Kotoko

A memorable Super Clash during Hearts' 2000 CAF Champions League-winning era. Accra Sports Stadium sold out.

2021 · 2021–22 TITLE RUN KICK-OFF

Kotoko 3–1 Hearts

One of the early Super Clashes played in front of fans post-COVID. Kotoko went on to win the GPL title that season.

Vibrance

VIBRANCE OF GHANA

Super Clash weekend has its own liturgy. Kotoko fans wear red, chant 'Kum apem a, apem beba' (kill a thousand, a thousand more will come), and treat the Asantehene's public blessing as the true kick-off. The Porcupine Warriors' tifos unfurl 20 minutes before kick-off, usually in the Home End of Baba Yara.

Hearts' fans — the Phobians — wear purple and yellow and carry the Gye Nyame Adinkra symbol onto matchday. Their chants lean older and longer; their oldest ultra group, 747, named itself after the Boeing jumbo jet because 'Hearts take you everywhere'. Both sides observe an informal rule: no matter who wins, the post-match chant is still 'Yɛte no pa' — 'we say it well.'

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Derby Chants & Traditions

local_fire_department

Red Sea

When Kotoko score at Baba Yara, the Home End lights flares and fans chant the name of the goalscorer for 3 full minutes. Opposition fans stay quiet.

church

Asantehene's blessing

For marquee Super Clashes in Kumasi, Kotoko players visit the Manhyia Palace 48 hours before kick-off. The visit is televised on local channels.

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747 Chant

Hearts' ultras chant their plane-name anthem before kickoff, during halftime, and after the final whistle regardless of result.

volunteer_activism

Tifo Exchange

For titles or milestones, each set of fans unveils a surprise tifo. The 2021 Kotoko 'Porcupine + Adinkra' display is regarded as the best in GPL history.

warning

Safety & Logistics

Wear neutral colours if you're travelling between cities on Super Clash day. Taxi drivers and intercity buses are vigilant about the wrong colours in the wrong city.

Avoid the Home End blocks if you're an away fan. Segregation is enforced at both Baba Yara and Accra Sports Stadium — separate Gate D for away supporters.

The Ghana Police Service deploys 800+ officers at Super Clashes in Kumasi, 600+ in Accra. Comply with any direction; the history of crowd incidents has made the police cautious.

In Kumasi: avoid the Kejetia central market 2 hours before and after kickoff. In Accra: the Osu area is lively but safer than Nima or La before/after the match.

Keep phone and cash separate. Both Baba Yara and Accra Sports have a documented pickpocket problem at turnstile crushes.

Red Cross + Ghana Ambulance Service at every Super Clash. On-site trauma clinic at each stadium. Free for emergency cases.

stadium

Baba Yara Stadium (Kumasi leg)

Kumasi · Capacity: 40,528

Baba Yara hosts Kotoko home fixtures. Accra Sports Stadium (40,000 capacity) hosts Hearts home fixtures. The annual Super Clash alternates venues home/away each season.

View Details 40,528

WHERE TO WATCH

tv
Ghana

GTV Sports+ · StarTimes Kumasi · Max TV

tv
Pan-Africa

SuperSport (DStv) — every Super Clash since 2003

tv
UK · USA · diaspora

Afrisport app · SuperSport USA · NPFL+ platform

tv
Official stream

scasantekotoko.com/live (Kotoko home matches) · heartsofoakgh.com (Hearts home)

TICKETS

verified Official

Ghana FA Match-day Portal

The GFA manages Super Clash ticketing via ghanafa.org/tickets and both clubs' official portals. Prices range GHS 40 (away end) to GHS 400 (VIP).

Buy on official site open_in_new
trending_up Derby-day pricing

Expect a premium

Expect 2–3× normal GPL pricing on Super Clash day. Standard home-end seats cost GHS 40 for an ordinary GPL fixture but GHS 100–150 for Kotoko vs Hearts. VIP boxes at Baba Yara sell out 6–8 weeks in advance.

warning
Do not buy from scalpers at Kejetia (Kumasi) or the Trust Hospital area (Accra). Counterfeit tickets for Super Clash are a known problem — they clone the QR pattern but fail at the gate. Only use GFA portal, club sites, or Ticketmaster Ghana.

RECENT FORM

Asante Kotoko

W W D W L

Hearts of Oak

W L W D W

Read More On This Derby

KO

Kwame Owusu

Senior Writer · 14 posts

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AO

Amara Okafor

Senior Writer · 5 posts

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Quick FAQ

What is the Super Clash?

The Super Clash is the Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak football fixture — Ghana's most intense domestic derby. First played in 1958, the rivalry is defined by Kumasi vs Accra geography, Ashanti vs Ga cultural identity, and 60+ years of title-deciding matches. Kotoko hold a narrow edge in the all-time head-to-head.

When was the Super Clash first played?

1958. The two clubs have met roughly 119 times across league, cup, Super Cup, President's Cup and friendly competitions through the 2025–26 GPL season.

Related

Club Asante Kotoko arrow_forward Club Hearts of Oak arrow_forward League Ghana Premier League arrow_forward Country Football in Ghana arrow_forward Stadium Baba Yara Stadium arrow_forward Guide Super Clash Derby History arrow_forward

help Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Super Clash? add
The Super Clash is the Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak football fixture — Ghana's most intense domestic derby. First played in 1958, the rivalry is defined by Kumasi vs Accra geography, Ashanti vs Ga cultural identity, and 60+ years of title-deciding matches. Kotoko hold a narrow edge in the all-time head-to-head.
When was the Super Clash first played? add
1958. The two clubs have met roughly 119 times across league, cup, Super Cup, President's Cup and friendly competitions through the 2025–26 GPL season.
Who has won the Super Clash more times? add
Asante Kotoko hold a narrow all-time head-to-head lead — roughly 41 wins to Hearts of Oak's 38, with 40 draws across ~119 meetings (per Ghana FA's preview data ahead of the 120th Super Clash).
Where is the Super Clash played? add
It alternates between Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi (Kotoko's home, 40,528 capacity) and Accra Sports Stadium (Hearts' home, 40,000 capacity). Each season one match is at Baba Yara and one at Accra. Away-end tickets are segregated with separate entry through Gate D at both grounds.
How much does a Super Clash ticket cost? add
Super Clash tickets are 2–3× normal GPL pricing. Standard home-end seats cost GHS 100–150 for a Super Clash (vs GHS 40 for a normal fixture). VIP boxes run GHS 300–400 and sell out 6–8 weeks in advance. Buy through ghanafa.org/tickets, the clubs' official portals, or Ticketmaster Ghana — never from scalpers.
Who are the historic top scorers in the Super Clash? add
Among the fixture's best remembered scorers: Opoku Afriyie (Asante Kotoko, 1970s–80s, Ghana's 1978 AFCON-winning brace), Mohammed Polo (Hearts of Oak, three spells 1973–92, 145 goals in his first Hearts stint), and Ishmael Addo (Hearts, 103 league goals across 1999–2002 and 2006–08). Fixture-specific goal counts are not reliably documented.
Why is the Super Clash so important? add
Three reasons. One, football: Kotoko and Hearts together account for 38+ of Ghana's ~67 Premier League titles. Two, geography: Kumasi vs Accra is the Ashanti-vs-coastal axis of Ghanaian identity. Three, history: the 1993 and 2008 Super Clashes both decided the league title in the 90th minute of the final matchday — match-deciding moments that shaped a generation of fans.
Where can I watch the Super Clash live? add
In Ghana: GTV Sports+, StarTimes Kumasi, and Max TV. Pan-Africa: SuperSport (DStv). Diaspora: Afrisport app, SuperSport USA for the United States, and the clubs' own live streams (scasantekotoko.com/live, heartsofoakgh.com). All Super Clashes since 2003 have been on SuperSport.
Is it safe to attend the Super Clash? add
Yes, with precautions. The Ghana Police deploys 600–800 officers at each match and segregation is strictly enforced. Wear neutral colours if travelling between Kumasi and Accra on match-day. Pickpocketing at turnstile crushes is the most common issue — keep phone and cash separate. The stadium medical service includes Red Cross + Ghana Ambulance.

Last updated 2026-04-21 · written by Kwame Owusu.