Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare may make a comeback to the starting lineup ahead of Hearts of Oak's trip to Aduana FC this weekend, according to assistant coach Abdul Gazale.
In their Matchday 15 match in the Ghana Premier League, the Phobians will go to Nana Agyemang Badu I Park on Sunday to play the two-time champions.
After being out for a few weeks, Asare returned to training earlier this week and is now a candidate for selection.
Before the match, Gazale clarified that the technical team is thoroughly evaluating the team before making any choices.
"We are considering how to assemble our team, which includes Benjamin Asare. Why not include Asare if the goalkeeper's trainer needs to?
If the goalie is judged unready, he said, the club is not under any pressure.
"We have others who can easily do the job for us if the goalkeeper's trainer sees that he [Benjamin Asare] needs additional time," Gazale continued.
Asare has established himself as the Black Stars' first-choice goalkeeper thanks to his outstanding performances over the previous two seasons.
The match will begin at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.
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Samartex vs. Heart of Lions is the match preview for Week 15 of the 2025–26 Ghana Premier League.
In a crucial top-four match on Sunday, Samartex and Heart of Lions will play at the Nsenkyire Sports Stadium in Samreboi. Both teams are keen to recover from losses in their prior games.
Last time out, Samartex lost to Basake Holy Stars, and Heart of Lions' remarkable run came to an end after losing to Aduana FC, which was their second straight loss.
Heart of Lions coach Bashir Hayford is under increasing pressure because another loss would make his team's dismal skid three straight losses. Despite having chances to lead the table and create a buffer at the top, the Lions' lack of consistency this season has left them four points behind.
With no goals in their last three games, their offensive issues have been particularly noticeable lately. There are still defense issues. Hayford will be eager to see an improvement in defense because they have given up 10 goals in 14 league games, the most of any team presently competing for the championship.
In contrast, Samartex, which won the championship two seasons ago, is now in the middle of the table. They could move up to the top four if they win on Sunday, but it will take a dedicated effort and laser-like attention from the first whistle.
Since December 2023, the two teams have squared off four times. Heart of Lions has won three games, whereas Samartex has just one. Heart of Lions won 2-1 in their most recent encounter, which took place on May 4, 2025. Samartex has scored three goals in those four games, while Lions have scored five, giving the visitors the advantage in previous head-to-head encounters.
With 21 points from 14 games, Samartex is now in seventh place in the standings, while Heart of Lions is in fifth place with 23 points from the same number of games.