Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea has been handed the responsibility of officiating the 2026 Champion of Champions encounter between Ghana Premier League champions Medeama SC and MTN FA Cup holders Nations FC.
The experienced FIFA-listed referee will take charge of the clash at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa on Sunday, August 30, with the match scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
Laryea will have Roland Addy and Theophilus Akugre alongside him as Assistant I and Assistant II respectively, while Gideon Nii-Cofie has been named Fourth Referee. Alex Kotey will serve as the Match Commissioner for the contest.
The fixture will mark the first opportunity for the two domestic champions to compete for silverware in the new campaign. Medeama enter the contest after winning the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League, while Nations FC secured the MTN FA Cup.
The Ghana Football Association has set the Popular Stand ticket at GH¢10, with supporters opting for the VIP section required to pay GH¢50. The affordable pricing is expected to encourage a strong turnout for the season’s opening domestic showpiece.
The Champion of Champions traditionally brings together the winners of the Premier League and FA Cup, providing an early test for both teams ahead of the start of the league season.
A Proven Official for a High-Profile Fixture
Laryea’s appointment comes on the back of an extensive career that has taken him from Ghana’s lower divisions to some of the continent’s biggest competitions.
He began refereeing in 2005 and made his Ghana Premier League debut seven years later. In 2014, he earned his FIFA badge and subsequently became involved in CAF competitions, including the CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup, CHAN and Africa Cup of Nations.
His international résumé includes the 2021 Ghanaian FA Cup final and involvement in the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League final as an Assistant Video Assistant Referee. He also officiated the Morocco-Nigeria semi-final at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Beyond his work as a centre referee, Laryea is a FIFA Video Match Official. His experience with VAR technology was further highlighted in 2026 when CAF selected him for the Interclub Quarter-finals Preparation Course in Cairo as both a centre referee and FIFA VMO.
His appointment gives the Champion of Champions a referee accustomed to high-pressure matches as Medeama and Nations FC prepare for what should be a competitive opening to the domestic season.
For Medeama, victory would add another trophy to a successful league-winning campaign, while Nations FC will be aiming to underline their status as one of Ghana’s emerging forces following their FA Cup triumph.
The Ghana Premier League is scheduled to commence over the weekend of September 4–7, making Sunday’s encounter an important competitive rehearsal for both sides and the first chance to claim domestic honours in the 2026/27 season.