Accra Hearts of Oak have officially announced their withdrawal from the upcoming EKO International Tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, citing scheduling conflicts with their pre-season recovery plans.
In a statement released on July 8, 2025, the Ghanaian giants expressed regret over the decision but explained that the tournament’s new dates, July 13 to 20, directly clash with their carefully planned rest and recovery schedule. Originally, the EKO tournament was set for July 6–13, but the rescheduling forced the club to reconsider their participation.
This change clashes with our carefully planned rest and recovery period for the players, which is crucial before we kick off our pre-season preparations, the club stated.
After careful discussions between management and the technical team, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw in order to protect the well-being of our squad.
The club also apologized to both the tournament organizers and fans who had been looking forward to seeing the Phobians in action during the Lagos event.
Hearts of Oak confirmed that the team will officially break on Wednesday, July 9, before returning later in the month to commence pre-season training. The club will then turn its focus to a busy August calendar featuring:
• GHALCA Top 4: August 15–19
• Homowo Cup vs. Heart of Lions: Date to be confirmed
• Democracy Cup vs. Great Olympics: August 28
Hearts of Oak thanked fans for their continued support and urged them to stay updated via their official channels for news on signings, training, and upcoming matches.