diff --git a/features/execute_phase_context_assembler_coverage.feature b/features/execute_phase_context_assembler_coverage.feature
index f9f26069d..660a79392 100644
--- a/features/execute_phase_context_assembler_coverage.feature
+++ b/features/execute_phase_context_assembler_coverage.feature
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ Feature: Execute-phase context assembler coverage
     When epcov I check path matching for "src/foo.py" with exclude "src/secret*"
     Then epcov the path should match
 
-@tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  # ---- Absolute path matching with relative globs (issue #10972) ----
+
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
   Scenario: epcov path matches absolute path against relative include glob
     When epcov I check path matching for "/app/.opencode/skills/SKILL.md" with include ".opencode/**"
     Then epcov the path should match
@@ -71,6 +73,26 @@ Feature: Execute-phase context assembler coverage
     When epcov I check path matching for "build/debug/output.log" with exclude "build/**"
     Then epcov the path should not match
 
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  Scenario: epcov absolute path matched against relative exclude glob
+    When epcov I check path matching for "/app/.opencode/skills/secret.md" with exclude ".opencode/**"
+    Then epcov the path should not match
+
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  Scenario: epcov absolute path deep subdirectory matches relative glob
+    When epcov I check path matching for "/app/docs/api/endpoint.md" with include "docs/**"
+    Then epcov the path should match
+
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  Scenario: epcov absolute path excluded by nested relative glob
+    When epcov I check path matching for "/app/vendor/lib/external.py" with exclude "vendor/**"
+    Then epcov the path should not match
+
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  Scenario: epcov absolute pattern (anchored with /) passed through unchanged
+    When epcov I check path matching for "/src/main.py" with include "/src/**"
+    Then epcov the path should match
+
   # ---- _resource_matches static method ----
 
   Scenario: epcov resource matches with no rules passes all
diff --git a/features/project_context_phase_analysis.feature b/features/project_context_phase_analysis.feature
index 5d751c366..361bae573 100644
--- a/features/project_context_phase_analysis.feature
+++ b/features/project_context_phase_analysis.feature
@@ -30,9 +30,18 @@ Feature: Project context phase analysis summaries
     Then execute phase should have fewer tokens than strategize phase
     And apply phase should have fewer or equal tokens than execute phase
 
+  # ---- Absolute path matching regression tests (issue #10972) ----
+
   @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
   Scenario: Absolute path fragments are correctly excluded by relative exclude globs
     Given a phase analysis policy with opencode exclude paths
     And an absolute path fragment for phase analysis
     When I compute project context phase analysis with budget 2000
     Then strategize phase should exclude the absolute path fragment
+
+  @tdd_issue @tdd_issue_10972
+  Scenario: absolute path excluded by relative exclude glob in phase analysis
+    Given a phase analysis policy with narrow include_paths "src/**" and strict exclude_paths ".opencode/**"
+    And an absolute-path fragment for phase analysis at "/app/.opencode/skills/SKILL.md"
+    When I compute project context phase analysis with budget 2000
+    Then the fragment should be excluded because its path does not match include paths
diff --git a/features/steps/project_context_phase_analysis_steps.py b/features/steps/project_context_phase_analysis_steps.py
index 77e80bef9..7cda8f14d 100644
--- a/features/steps/project_context_phase_analysis_steps.py
+++ b/features/steps/project_context_phase_analysis_steps.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def step_policy_opencode_exclude(context: Any) -> None:
 
 
 @given("an absolute path fragment for phase analysis")
-def step_absolute_path_fragment(context: Any) -> None:
+def step_absolute_path_fragment_opencode(context: Any) -> None:
     """Fragment with an absolute path that should be excluded by relative globs."""
     context.phase_fragments = [
         TieredFragment(
@@ -226,6 +226,35 @@ def step_absolute_path_fragment(context: Any) -> None:
     ]
 
 
+@given(
+    'a phase analysis policy with narrow include_paths "{include}" and strict exclude_paths "{exclude}"'
+)
+def step_strict_path_policy(context: Any, include: str, exclude: str) -> None:
+    context.phase_policy = ProjectContextPolicy(
+        default_view=ContextView(include_resources=["local/*"]),
+        strategize_view=ContextView(
+            include_paths=[include],
+            exclude_paths=[exclude],
+        ),
+    )
+
+
+@given('an absolute-path fragment for phase analysis at "{path}"')
+def step_absolute_path_fragment_at(context: Any, path: str) -> None:
+    """Create a fragment with an absolute path for testing issue #10972."""
+    context.phase_fragments = [
+        TieredFragment(
+            fragment_id="abs-paths",
+            content="x" * 50,
+            tier=ContextTier.HOT,
+            resource_id="local/repo-a",
+            project_name="local/ctx-app",
+            token_count=60,
+            metadata={"path": path, "byte_size": 50_000},
+        )
+    ]
+
+
 @then("strategize phase should exclude the absolute path fragment")
 def step_strat_excludes_absolute(context: Any) -> None:
     """Verify that the absolute path fragment is excluded by relative glob patterns."""
@@ -234,3 +263,11 @@ def step_strat_excludes_absolute(context: Any) -> None:
         f"Expected 0 fragments (absolute path should be excluded by relative glob), "
         f"got {strat['fragment_count']}"
     )
+
+
+@then("the fragment should be excluded because its path does not match include paths")
+def step_fragment_excluded(context: Any) -> None:
+    strat = context.phase_result["phases"]["strategize"]
+    assert strat["fragment_count"] == 0, (
+        f"Expected 0 fragments in strategize phase but had {strat['fragment_count']}"
+    )