Ghana Premier League powerhouse Hearts of Oak are scheduled to travel to Nigeria to participate in this year's edition of the Eko International Cup (EIC) as part of the club's 2025–26 pre-season itinerary.
The Phobians are among the eight clubs invited by the Lagos State Government to compete for the 2025 Eko International Cup (EIC) scheduled to take place from 6th to 13th July, 2025.
According to the organisers, the ten-day soccer competition will bring eight clubs from five nations together at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos to battle for the ultimate title and prize money.
This year, the competing teams are spread across five countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, South Africa and Sierra Leone.
Reigning champions of the Nigeria Premier League, Remo Stars, Ikorodu United, Shooting Stars and Enyimba of Aba are the clubs from the host country invited for the competition.
The three other African teams to play the competition alongside Hearts of Oak are FC Kallon of Sierra Leone, SuperSports United FC of South Africa and FC Dadje of the Republic of Benin.
Hearts of Oak are hoping to end their 2024–25 Ghana Premier League season in style by securing victories in the final games – against Legon Cities and FC Samartex – to finish among the top four clubs. The club's ambition of winning a trophy was smashed by second-tier league outfit Golden Kick FC after eliminating them from the FA Cup competition at the quarter-final stage.
Hearts of Oak is the oldest existing club in West Africa and among the few clubs on the continent to win a treble, achieving this feat in 2000.
The Executive Director of Publicity and Strategy for the Local Organizing Committee of the EIC, Onome Obruthe in an exclusive interview with Kickgh.com, has confirmed that preparations for the upcoming tournament are progressing smoothly.
With meticulous attention to detail, the organizing committee is ensuring that all aspects of the event are well-planned, setting the stage for a successful tournament.
Obruthe emphasized the benefits of this year's edition, saying in an interview with Kickgh.com: “The aim of the tournament is to give participating clubs a chance to get back into shape after their holidays at the end of each season. It is also a chance to test new players they signed or plan to sign for the new season as well as work on tactics for the new season.”
“For the fans, it is an opportunity to return to the stadium to watch players they love and get a taste of what their various teams have to offer for the new season.”
By: Gideon Kofi Nyamekye
