Ghana’s top bodybuilding stars electrified the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon on Sunday night, carrying and escorting the MTN FA Cup to the podium, before and after the decisive finale of the 2025/26 competition.
The University Stadium once again hosted the MTN FA Cup final as Nations Cup stunned 2023 winners Dreams FC 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
The Abrankese side, relegated from the Ghana Premier League on the last day last week, held their nerve to secure their first major silverware by the victory, and will also represent Ghana in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
But a huge side attraction at the event was a group of bodybuilders, famously refered to as ‘machomen’ belonging to the national bodybuilding and fitness team, who lighted up the stadium when they appeared with the tournament trophy, displayed it to the spectators at the cup final before perfectly positioning it in front of the VIP stand to await the result of the match and it’s destination.
And in the end, the ‘machomen’ carried the beautiful trophy back unto the pitch for the coronation ceremony following Nations’ stunning upset of in-form Dreams who finished the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League campaign on a strong run that culminated in a 4th place finish.
Their dreams of returning to the CAF Confederation Cup next season was dashed by Nations who will now represent Ghana in the continent’s second tier club tournament in the 2026/27 campaign, despite heading to the Division One League next term.
According to Abdul Hayye Yartey, President of the Ghana Bodybuilding & Fitness Association (GBFA), who also serves on the MTN FA Cup Committee, the move was significant to court public attention and visibility to bodybuilding and fitness, while also providing a platform for the ‘machomen’ to demonstrate their diverse abilities in addition to adding fun to the soccer spectacle.
The bodybuilders who took part in the exercise include Derrick Marley, Fred Amankwah, Frederick Abugah, Ampadu Martinson, Reagan Mends and Evans Segdor Naamwanuru.
“As a member of the MTN FA Cup Committee when we were planning the closing ceremony of the final game, I suggested their usage because I believe the sport of bodybuilding is very beautiful and an attractive one that will bring some attraction to what we want to do,” Mr Yartey told Sportsinghana.com.
“Football is the heartbeat of Ghana and a global sport with numbers, a sport that has massive viewership. Partnering football will bring lots of viewership to the sport of bodybuilding while maintaining the attraction of the occasion,” he said.
