REVEALED: Why ASEC Mimosas was chosen ahead of Hearts of Oak for the President Cup 2024.

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club will host Ivorian Giants ASEC Mimosas at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the President Cup on 5^th March 2023 in honor of the President of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo just a day before Ghana’s 67^th Independence Anniversary.

The President of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and the President of Ivory Coast His Excellency Alassane Ouattara will be at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) announced a free gate ahead of the game later this year.

Ghana League Club Association president, Cudjoe Fiano has explained why defending champions Hearts of Oak Sporting Club were overlooked for this year’s President Cup in an interview with Kumasi-based Kessben FM.

“We want to change our way of doing things. Ghanaians in recent times have been raising concerns about our frequent use of Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in playing the President’s Cup. Given that, we decided to use a different team this time. People also think Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are cash cows, in the previous edition we played Free Gate meaning the enthusiasm is not there anymore.”

“We want to alter our style of running the President Cup. Some of our plans were ambitious. Some may think we are overambitious. We have plans of sitting down with any President at the helm and know the team they support, so we can organize the Cup competition on the club of their choice.

He further explained that the new style is inspired by the act of President Nana Akufo-Addo inviting other Presidents to celebrate Ghana’s Independence Day”

“In the case of Nana Akufo-Addo, we’ve realized he always invites a special guest (President of another African country) during the Independence Day celebration. Last year was Guinea-Bissau’s President. After contacting the Presidency, we got to know Ivory Coast’s leader Alhassan Ouattara will be the special guest for this year’s Independence Day. So we decided to pick the Champions of each country for the President Cup”

“Asec Mimosas will represent Ivory Coast. Medeama was supposed to represent Ghana but won’t be available at the time because of their CAF Champions League participation, so Asante Kotoko will replace them. For now, we have settled on Kotoko and Asec Mimosas”

Asante Kotoko Sporting Club will hope to clinch their nine President’s Cup title. They are the most successful club since the inception of the President’s cup, winning eight and bitterest rival Hearts of Oak Sporting Club has also won six.