The treble dreams of the Royal Ladies of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) ended in tears on Saturday after they fell short to Lakers of Kenya in the final of the 2026 African Hockey Federation (AfHF) African Club Champions Cup (ACCC) in Zimbabwe.
The Ghanaian Queens paid the penalty for not burying their chances in a dominant performance against the team they beat 1-0 in the competition’s opening game a week earlier. After taking the lead through the evergreen captain Elizabeth Opoku in the first quarter, the Ghanaians continued to dominate proceedings but couldnt add to the tally until the Kenyans stormed back to equalise in the third quarter. Try as the Ghanaians did, the resilient Lakers held firm at the back.
Such was GRA’s wastefulness in front of goal that the Ghanaian and record 5-times African champions failed to utilise even one of over 15 penalty corners earned during the match. Eventually, the destination of the trophy was settled via a penalty shootout, which was edged 2-0 by the Kenyans, shattering the Royal Ladies’ record extension dreams.
The GRA men however finished on a high after edging Hippo of Zimbabwe in a shootout to seal the bronze medal in the curtain raiser to the men’s final. Having lost the chase for the ultimate courtesy a 1-2 defeat to eventual champions, Portfouad of Egypt in the semi finals last Friday, GRA recovered to edge a tight match for 3rd place 2-1 in a shootout after a 2-2 draw. Ernest Obeng Opoku and Ignatius Blankson scored during regulation, with Peter Adjetey and Louis Kugbey taking responsibility during the shootout, whilst Luke Damalie earned man-of-the-match honours for the second time in Zimbabwe.
Meanhile, the Ghanaians were consoled by three individual accolades as skipper Elizabeth Opoku claimed the top scorer award with seven goals, whiles shot-stoppers Eugene Acheampong and Matilda Addison were named men’s and women’s best goalkeeper of the tournament respectively.
Addison earns the same award for the second year in a row, following her heroics in Ismailia, Egypt last February. Achemapong, who was named MVP in the opening group win over Hotspurs of Zambia, was also decisive in the shootout victory that sealed 3rd place.
Last year’s tournament MVP and top scorer, Vivian Narkuor and Mavis Berko (twice) also won MVP of the match awards during the 2026 event.
A very livid Ebenezer Frimpong, Head of Sports, GRA and leader of delegation, could hide his disillusionment, pointing out that Individual awards is irrelevant because of the opportunity missed to make history.
“We gave away the trophy, I am going to reflect over the games and see what really hit us. Where we got it wrong as players, technical staff and administrator,” he told the Graphic Sports from Harare.
“As the head of sports, I take full responsibility for not being able to bring the trophy home. I feel disappointed and sorry for disappointing the entire staff of GRA and Ghanaians. We have no excuse,” he said.
The entire team has already returned home in two batches on Sunday and Monday dawn respectively.
