Hearts of Oak pull out of GHALCA Top-4 as Samartex take their place

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Hearts of Oak will not participate in this year's GHALCA Top-4 Tournament after the club decided that the competition's schedule does not fit with its preparations for the new Ghana Premier League season.

The Phobians announced their withdrawal on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, just over two weeks before the tournament is due to begin.

"After careful consideration, the Club has therefore decided that withdrawing from the tournament is the most appropriate course of action at this time," the statement said.

GHALCA has subsequently named FC Samartex 1996 as Hearts' replacement.

Samartex finished fifth in the Ghana Premier League last season and will now take the place of the Accra giants in the four-team pre-season competition.

"We have decided to replace Hearts of Oak with FC Samartex, who finished fifth on the league log last season," GHALCA chairman John Ansah told Asempa FM.

The decision comes as GHALCA prepares to stage the tournament from 26 to 30 August.

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