MTN FA Cup 2026/27 Preliminary Results: Penalty Drama and Big Wins Set Up the Round of 64
SportAirwave Sports Desk | 28 October 2026
The preliminary round of the 2026/27 MTN FA Cup delivered a weekend of high-scoring wins, narrow escapes and penalty shoot-outs as clubs from across Ghana competed for places in the Round of 64. Matches were played from Friday, 23 October, through Sunday, 25 October, with the Ghana Football Association’s official results listing several emphatic victories alongside ties that could not be settled in normal time.
The results show why the FA Cup is different from a league campaign. In a league, a poor afternoon can be followed by another fixture and a chance to recover points. In a knockout competition, a single match can end a club’s journey. That pressure was visible in several ties that went to penalties, including Kumasi King Faisal’s 9–8 shoot-out win over Pro-Sports Academy after a goalless draw.
Friday: Yapei stun RTU and Nsuopun produce the biggest score
Friday’s opening set included Yapei FC’s 2–1 away victory over Real Tamale United, a result that will be remembered as one of the round’s notable surprises. Tamale City FC also edged Wa Power Sporting Club 1–0, while Droman United FC beat Katakyie Stars FC 2–0. Victory Club Warriors FC defeated Techiman Eleven Wonders FC by the same score, and Future Stars FC recorded a 1–0 win over Citi Football Academy.
The most one-sided result in the Friday group came from Nsuopun Fidelity FC, who beat Bhog Football Club 7–1. Fiaseman United FC secured a 2–1 victory over Bis Paradise SC. Two other matches required penalties after level scores: 7th Wave FC defeated A5 Rences FC 4–2 from the spot after a 1–1 draw, while Okwahu United beat Oda Kotoku Royals FC 5–4 on penalties after the teams finished goalless.
Kumasi King Faisal’s 9–8 shoot-out win over Pro-Sports Academy was especially tight. The scoreline underlines how a cup tie can turn on a single kick after neither side finds a breakthrough in open play. Penalties are part of the competition’s format, not a separate measure of how well a team played across a longer season.
Saturday: WAFA, Golden Warriors and Sekondi Rospak make statements
Saturday’s programme featured 14 matches. Sekondi Rospak FC beat Ebiemo Nzema FC 5–1, while Golden Warriors FC recorded an 8–0 victory over Asenema Akuapem Wait & See SC. WAFA beat Shalom FC 3–0, and Dynamo FC-Ho defeated New Way Escalate FC 4–2. These results gave the winners a clear route into the next round and showed how quickly a cup match can become difficult for a side that concedes early.
New Edubiase FC beat Fast Track FC 2–0, FC Nania defeated Hakla FC 2–0, and Inter Allies FC won 4–2 against Koforidua Semper Fi. Sankara Nationals beat Yelzoli FC 2–0, Adom Football Club edged Benab FC 1–0, and Bulls Football Club Zuarungu recorded a 2–1 win over Bolga Soccer Masters FC. Kalibi Sporting Club beat Hilla Stars FC 1–0.
There was also more penalty drama. K.A.C Soccer Academy FC advanced after a 6–5 shoot-out against FOSA FC. True Democracy FC beat Exulted FC 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, while Accra Elite Academy defeated True Life FC 3–2 from the spot after a 2–2 match. Those ties highlight the value of preparation for the full match, extra-time procedures where applicable, and the high-pressure kick sequence used to decide a winner.
Sunday: Accra Lions advance and several ties go to the wire
Sunday’s 15 fixtures completed the preliminary round. Accra Lions FC beat John Paintsil FC 2–0, FC Armour thrashed 4Eva Yung Hills FC 4–0, and Betenase United FC won 6–0 against Genesis Essaman United. Fettehman United FC beat Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs 2–0, while Jema Marvelous FC edged Pro Players Academy 1–0. Elmina Sharks FC defeated Soccer Intellectuals FC 3–2 in one of the closer results.
Penalty shoot-outs again decided progression. Berekum City FC beat Liberty Stars 4–3 from the spot, Ebony FC defeated Nations Football Club 4–2 after a 1–1 draw, and Sefwi All Stars FC beat Skyy FC Daboase 4–3 on penalties after a 3–3 contest. Golden Kick FC advanced by beating Attram De Visser SC 4–3 from the spot, while Home Stars FC overcame Dzemeni Maranatha FC 5–2 on penalties. Yadzo Oti Warriors FC also won on penalties, defeating Nukunu FC 4–2.
Sombo Freedom Stars FC beat Wa Sore Nante SC 3–1, and Pac Academy FC defeated Aruna Yorktown FC by the same score. The spread of results across the three days demonstrates the geographical reach of the competition, with teams from different regions and tiers seeking a route into the later rounds.
Why the Round of 64 matters
The GFA says the preliminary-round winners will progress to the Round of 64. For smaller clubs, that next stage can mean a chance to face a better-known opponent, attract attention from supporters and sponsors, and test the depth of their squad against a different level of opposition. For established clubs, the cup is a separate route to silverware, but it carries the risk of elimination in a single game.
Progression can also bring operational demands. Clubs need to plan travel, player recovery, medical support, match preparation and compliance with competition requirements. A team that wins after a draining shoot-out may need to manage fatigue carefully before its next fixture. Coaches also have to balance cup ambitions with league obligations, especially when the calendar brings domestic competitions close together.
The results should not be treated as a final ranking of club strength. A large score is meaningful, but cup football also produces unusual match conditions, tactical choices and one-off outcomes. A side that loses narrowly may have competed well, while a team that advances on penalties has survived the contest even if it did not score in open play. The next round will provide a new test rather than simply repeating the preliminary-round pattern.
What supporters should watch next
Supporters should look for the official Round of 64 draw, confirmed dates and venues from the Ghana Football Association rather than relying on unverified fixture graphics. The draw will determine which preliminary-round winners face one another and whether any of the successful sides meet clubs from higher divisions. Travel and venue information should be checked close to match day because a draw announcement is not the same as a confirmed kick-off time.
SportAirwave will continue tracking Ghanaian football beyond the cup. Readers can also follow our Ghana Premier League Matchday 8 coverage and our analysis of why stronger youth academies matter beyond the pitch for wider context on the domestic game.
Sources: Ghana Football Association, MTN FA Cup 2026/27 Preliminary Round Results; GFA MTN FA Cup competition page.
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