Four Ghanaian hockey officials delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Africa Cup for Club Championship held in Zimbabwe, earning commendation for their professionalism and consistency on the continental stage.
The officials — Akwasi Acheampong, Blessing Azaglo, Ebenezer Darko Jnr, and Aikins Opoku Danso — were selected for this year’s championship, with two serving as umpires and two as technical table officials.
For Acheampong and Darko Jnr, it was their second appearance at the tournament, while Azaglo and Opoku Danso made their debut at the African level.
Among the umpires, debutant Aikins Opoku Danso, a Sergeant with the Ghana Prison Service, officiated eight matches across both the men’s and women’s divisions. Ebenezer Darko Jnr, on his second appearance, officiated nine matches during the competition.
On the technical table, Blessing Azaglo made her first African appearance and officiated 12 matches, including the women’s third-place playoff, while Akwasi Acheampong, a Principal Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), also on his second appearance, handled 13 matches, including semi-final fixtures and the men’s final.
Speaking to the media upon their arrival at the airport, the officials expressed gratitude to the institutions that supported their participation and reflected on the high standards of officiating at the tournament.
“Officiating at this level was completely different from what we are used to back home. Players and teams clearly understood and respected the rules and regulations,” Acheampong said.
He added that the competition was technically demanding and highly educational, citing live television coverage, strict time management such as the 40-second rule, and well-organised technical operations as key learning experiences they hope to apply to improve officiating standards in Ghana.
For his part, Opoku Danso stressed the need for improvement in physical conditioning, skills development, and officiating standards, noting that Ghana has the potential to match top hockey nations if officials are given more opportunities for international exposure.
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The post Hockey: 4 Ghanaian officials excel at Africa Cup for Club Championship appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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