Current league champions Accra Hearts of Oak have just four (4) matches left out of the remaining nine (9) to avoid being kicked out of contention for the 2021/2022 league title, as they currently trail leaders Asante Kotoko by a whooping 15 points.
The defending champions once again failed to deliver on Sunday in the match week 25 encounter against bottom side Elmina Sharks, who held them to a 1-1 draw after Samuel Inkoom had opened the score for the Phobians with a sublime free kick. Despite tasting their third defeat of the season to relegation fighting side Real Tamale United by 2-1 on Sunday, leaders Asante Kotoko still maintain a 15-point gab between themselves and the defending champions Accra Hearts of Oak.
Hearts of Oak won the 2020/21 league title title which earned them the ticket to participate in the CAF Champions League this season, but have struggled throughout the season in all the 25 league matches played so far. Out of 25 matches, the title holders have won just 9 and lost 6 in the process. The 1-1 draw at home with Elmina Sharks on Sunday was the 10th time the Phobians have drawn a league match this season, and have amassed just 37 out of the possible 75 points.
The league is in its business end of the season where title contenders are pressing hard towards the title, while clubs in the drop zone are equally fighting beyond themselves to avoid being relegated. Accra Hearts of Oak will currently need 5 match wins out of the remaining 9 matches to equal the current 52 points of Asante Kotoko who are sitting on top of the league log, before fighting for at least 3 wins out of the remaining 4 with at least a draw, and hope that Asante Kotoko drop points in those 4 matches before they (Hearts of Oak) can rescue their title defence aspirations.
Mathematically, one more loss and a draw in the next four matches will completely kick Hearts of Oak away from contention should Asante Kotoko record a better result in those matches. Asante Kotoko currently has a better head-to-head record against Hearts of Oak, having picked 4 points from the 6 in the two matches between the two sides in the league.
The Phobians primarily are a game lose away from losing their destiny from their own hands to rivals Asante Kotoko.
Hearts of Oak are currently into the semi finals of the MTN FA Cup competition to face Dreams FC for a spot in the final to be played in Kumasi, and would give it all to the FA Cup as the dream to defend the league title is now all but almost over.
