The 3rd edition of the All Star Festival in Tamale culminated in a thrilling victory for the All Star team, secured by a dominant performance from Black Stars captain Andre Ayew.
The All Star game which climaxed the All Star Festival, was held at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale, and saw the All Star team maintain their perfect record in the festival’s history.
They faced a determined Northern Stars team comprised of talented players from various clubs across the north of Ghana.
Ayew, ever the star attraction, opened the scoring in the first half. After a series of threatening attacks by the Northern Stars, the All Stars countered, with Ayew rising above the defense to head home a perfectly placed corner kick delivered by his brother, Jordan.
This goal ignited the crowd, sending Ayew’s name echoing through the stands.
The All Star team went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, thanks in part to strong performances from internationals and Black Stars players like Felix Afena-Gyan, Leicester’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Abdul Majeed Waris, and Samuel Sarfo.
The Northern Stars refused to go down without a fight, coming out strong in the second half and grabbing an equalizer within five minutes.
However, their joy was short-lived. Capitalizing on a deflected free-kick from Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew, with his trademark opportunism, pounced on the loose ball and hit a one-time shot for his second goal of the night.
The final whistle blew with the score at 2-1 for the All Star team, securing another All Star Festival victory and extending their perfect record to three years in a row (2022 in Accra, 2023 in Dormaa).
This performance cemented Andre Ayew’s legacy in the All-Star Festival. He is now the only player to score in all three editions, bringing his total goals to an impressive four.
The All Star Festival in Tamale proved to be a resounding success, showcasing both established talent and rising stars while honoring Ghana’s rich footballing history.
The fans were treated to an exciting match, while Andre Ayew’s performance served as a fitting climax to the week-long celebration of football and its potential.