In a tightly contested Week 33 fixture of the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League, defending champions FC Samartex 1996 secured a vital 1–0 victory over Accra Hearts of Oak at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026.


The narrow win snapped a recent winless streak for the "Timber Giants" and severely dented the Phobians' ambitions of comfortably securing a top-four finish, setting up a dramatic final day of the season.

Key Match Highlights
- he Decisive Strike: Following a tense and goalless first half, the breakthrough came in the 54th minute. Samartex's Gabriel Osei unleashed a thunderous strike that beat the Hearts of Oak goalkeeper, providing the only goal of the encounter.
- Pre-Match Scare for Hearts: The Phobians fielded a strong starting lineup despite being involved in a minor road accident in Samreboi on Saturday. Fortunately, no casualties or serious injuries were reported, though it cast a slight shadow over their preparations.
- Samartex Bounce Back: The victory was Samartex's first in their last three outings, having previously suffered back-to-back defeats against Bibiani Gold Stars and Heart of Lions. It also marked their first win over Hearts of Oak in four attempts.

Impact on the Standings
The result significantly tightened the battle at the top end of the table, even as Medeama SC officially clinched the league title elsewhere. Samartex has now closed the gap on Hearts of Oak to just a single point, keeping their own top-four hopes alive heading into the final week of the season.