Hockey: Royal Ladies suffer penalty heartbreak as GRA men salvage bronze
The treble dream of the Royal Ladies of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) ended in heartbreak last Saturday after a narrow defeat to Kenya’s Lakers in the final of the 2026 African Hockey Federation (AfHF) African Club Champions Cup (ACCC) in Zimbabwe.
In a match they largely controlled, the five-time African champions were left to rue a night of costly profligacy in front of goal. Despite earning more than 15 penalty corners, the Royal Ladies failed to convert a single one, allowing the contest to drift to a penalty shootout.
There, the Kenyans held their nerve to win 2–0, denying GRA a record-extending title and shattering their hopes of a historic treble.
While the women fell just short of glory, the GRA men ensured the Ghanaian contingent did not leave empty-handed. They secured the bronze medal after edging hosts Hippo of Zimbabwe in a tense shootout in the curtain-raiser to the men’s final.
Having seen their title challenge end with a 2–1 semi-final defeat to eventual champions Port Fouad of Egypt last Friday, the men responded with character. They fought back from a hard-fought 2–2 draw to prevail 2–1 in the shootout, with Ernest Obeng Opoku and Ignatius Blankson on target in regulation time.
Peter Adjetey and Louis Kugbey then kept their composure from the spot while Luke Damalie capped another outstanding display by earning his second man-of-the-match award of the tournament.
Men’s team salvage bronze
There was further consolation for the Ghanaians in the form of individual honours. Skipper Elizabeth Opoku emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals, while Eugene Acheampong and Matilda Addison were named men’s and women’s Goalkeepers of the Tournament, respectively.
For Addison, the accolade marked a remarkable back-to-back achievement, following her heroics at last year’s championship in Ismailia, Egypt. Acheampong, who was named MVP in GRA’s opening group victory over Hotspurs of Zambia, also played a decisive role in the shootout that sealed third place.
Last year’s tournament MVP and top scorer, Vivian Narkuor, alongside Mavis Berko—who claimed two MVP awards—also picked up match honours during the 2026 event.
Despite the individual recognition, GRA Head of Sports and leader of the delegation, Ebenezer Frimpong, cut a visibly frustrated figure after the final, insisting the missed opportunity to make history overshadowed everything else.
“We gave away the trophy,” a clearly disillusioned Frimpong told the Graphic Sports from Harare. “I am going to reflect on the games to see where we got it wrong, — as players, technical staff and administrators.
“As head of sports, I take full responsibility for not being able to bring the trophy home. I feel disappointed and sorry for letting down the entire staff of GRA and Ghanaians. We have no excuse.”
