Accra Hearts of Oak have officially withdrawn from the 2026 Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) Top-4 Tournament, citing scheduling conflicts and disrupted pre-season preparations ahead of the new Ghana Premier League campaign.
The Phobians were scheduled to come up against 2025/26 Ghana Premier League winners, Medeama SC, runners-up, Bibiani Gold Stars, and fourth positioned Dreams FC, in the annual pre-season tournament organised to help clubs prepare and warm up competitively before the new league campaign.
In an official statement released yesterday, the Phobians explained that the tournament schedule directly overlaps their pre-planned club activities.
“After careful considerations, the Club has, therefore, decided that withdrawing from the tournament is the most appropriate course of action at this time,” the statement read.
The release expressed management’s concern that participating so close to the start of the domestic league season could compromise their overall readiness.
According to the club, they had engaged the GHALCA leadership to request an adjustment of the tournament dates to accommodate their participation, however, with those discussions failing to yield a revised schedule, the club decided to pull out.
Despite the withdrawal, Hearts expressed gratitude to GHALCA for its efforts, wished the remaining participants success, and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong working relationship with the association and the wider Ghanaian football fraternity.
The decision has dealt a major blow to GHALCA, who had counted on the inclusion of the Accra giants to headline the marquee pre-season tournament.
GHALCA on its part have accepted the position of Hearts of Oak and have replaced them with the fifth placed side last season, Samartex FC.
According to GHALCA, everything was is in place for a great tournament from August 26-30 at the University of Ghana Stadium, Legon.
BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER
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