Accra Hearts of Oak have confirmed their participa-tion in the upcoming in-ternational pre-season tournament – Eko International Cup (EIC), scheduled to take place from July 6-13 at the Mobolaji Johnson Are-na, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria.
Put together by the Lagos State government in collaboration with SKI-Hi Entertainment, the Phobi-ans are expected to join seven other clubs drawn from Nigeria, Benin, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
Confirming their participation, Head of Communications at the Rainbow Club, Mr Kwame Opare Addo, said the tournament was part of the reasons for the early appointment of Head Coach Mas- Ud Didi Dramani.
鈥淵es, Hearts of Oak will take part in the EIC tournament in Ni-geria,鈥 said Mr Opare Addo in an interview with The Times Sports yesterday.
According to him, an advance team of players will leave for Lagos on July 4 ahead of their opening game three days later against Dadje FC of Benin.
He noted that the rest of the squad will be in Lagos a day before that game after playing rivals, Asante Kotoko, on Sunday, July 6, in the 2025 President鈥檚 Cup at the Accra Sports Stadium.
鈥淭he club is serious about the two assignments; these are part of our pre-season preparations. As a result, the coach has recalled all loaned players as well as players who were on their way out of the club as well as players from the ju-nior side,鈥 Mr Opare Addo stated.
Coach Didi Dramani, while working hard to make a good impact with both assignments, he is also expected to use the opportu-nity to further evaluate his players and make adjustments before the domestic season starts in Septem-ber.
The Phobians will face Nigerian champions, Remo Stars FC, on July 9 before taking on Enyimba FC two days later
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY