Port City and Debibi United Secure Historic First Wins as Rugby Championship Race Tightens

Ghana's sporting landscape saw significant shifts this weekend as newcomers Port City FC and Debibi United recorded their first-ever Ghana Premier League (GPL) victories, while the Rugby League Federation Ghana (RLFG) title race became a dead heat. In Matchweek 3 of the 2026/27 GPL season, traditional heavyweights including defending champions Medeama SC, Asante Kotoko, and Hearts of Oak all struggled to secure maximum points. Simultaneously, at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium, the race for the Men’s 13s Championship reached a fever pitch with the top two teams now tied on points.

The headline results in the GPL featured Port City FC’s 2-1 triumph over Berekum Chelsea and Debibi United’s dominant 3-0 win against Young Apostles FC. Francis Gyetuah was the hero for Port City, bagging a brace to earn the NASCO Man of the Match award. Meanwhile, the league’s established powers faced frustration; Medeama SC was held to a 1-1 draw by Vision FC, Asante Kotoko shared points with FC Samartex in a 1-1 stalemate, and Hearts of Oak played out a goalless draw against Bechem United. Across the nine league fixtures, a total of 19 goals were recorded, signaling an increasingly competitive start to the season.

Individual excellence was recognized through nine NASCO Man of the Match awards across the football weekend. Notable recipients included Stephen Amankona, who led Aduana FC to a dramatic 2-1 win over Karela United, and Isaiah Nyarko, who stood out for Hearts of Oak. Other winners included Alidu Mohammed (Vision FC), Abdul Jalilu (Heart of Lions), and Michael Abina (Dreams FC). Despite Dreams FC’s loss in a 3-2 thriller against GoldStars SC, Abina’s performance was a highlight of a weekend defined by high-scoring drama and historic breakthroughs for league newcomers.

In the RLFG Men’s 13s Championship, the Accra Panthers and the Dragons secured vital wins that have completely reshaped the standings. The Panthers defeated the Bulls 16–4, powered by two tries from Kofi Adusei Abah, while the Dragons delivered a clinical 36–10 performance against the Titans. These results have left the Bulls and Dragons tied at the summit of the table with 21 points each. Prince Chris Ebo Da-Gama Idan Odum was the standout for the Dragons, contributing multiple tries and anchoring a disciplined defensive effort that has placed his side in a prime position for the title.

As both competitions progress, the focus turns to maintaining momentum in an increasingly volatile season. The Ghana Premier League enters its next phase with several traditional giants looking to reclaim their footing, while the rugby championship resumes on October 4, 2026. Upcoming rugby fixtures including Titans vs. Panthers and Bulls vs. Tigers are expected to further clarify the path to the championship. For Ghanaian sports fans, this weekend underscored a growing era of parity and competition across both the pitch and the oval.