Ghanaian football giants Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak will contest for the 2026 Democracy Cup on Friday in Kumasi.
The game will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium with a giant trophy and prize money at stake for the victors.
This will be the second time the two clubs will be contesting this trophy in three years.
In the maiden edition of this off-season contest, Asante Kotoko emerged champions after beating Hearts of Oak 2-1 in Accra in 2024 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Asante Kotoko will look to win again on Friday as they welcome the Phobians to the Garden City.
In the second edition of the contest, Hearts of Oak beat their city rivals Accra Great Olympics 1-0 at the University of Ghana Stadium, Legon, Accra.
As reigning champions, the Phobians will aim to retain the trophy at a venue they have recorded some famous victories over Asante Kotoko in the past.
Both sides have injected new additions to their squad ahead of the new season which starts next month.
They both are on the threshold of completing their pre-season preparations for the new campaign, and how ready they are for the 2026-27 football season would be known on Friday.
Playing at home, Asante Kotoko will aim to make the most of the conditions, and, they will feel confident of winning this game.
Their new helmsman, South African Eric Tinkler, will want to start his Ghanaian adventure on a high with a win for Kotoko against their arch rivals.
That too, is what Hearts' new coach Nebojsa Kapor will be going for, as he begins his helm in charge of the capital club.
It sets the stage for a battling contest on Friday afternoon in Kumasi as Asante Kotoko plays Hearts of Oak for the 2026 Democracy Cup.
The Democracy Cup game is organized by the Parliament of Ghana in association with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in recognition of parliamentary democracy in Ghana.
