AccraWOPs

DAY 1 opened with energy and expectation. As the sun rose over Accra, registration buzzed with the excitement of players eager to begin. A powerful kick-off video set the tone for what was to come: a blend of opportunity, learning, and challenge. After the official welcome and programme introduction, the players jumped into team-building exercises across five dynamic stations, working side by side in mixed team formats that fostered cooperation, quick thinking, and unity. The morning was elevated by an inspiring session from Dauaride Empere, our Mentorship Programme Director, who explored the powerful theme “The Brain Game – Why Creativity Wins in Football (and Life)”. This seamlessly led into the first creative challenge: “One Line – One Mind”, where players had to express teamwork and vision through guided, playful design.

FIFA international referee Daniel Nii Laryea then shifted the focus to education, delivering a heartfelt appeal about the role of academic and personal development in shaping a successful career, whether on or off the pitch. A rich Q&A session rounded off the morning. After a hearty midday break, the afternoon pulsed with excitement as both male and female teams took to the field. Passion, grit, and talent filled the air as spectators watched Valued Girls FA, Rock Ladies, and others showcase their skillsets. The boys weren’t left behind, with Young Spartans, Salami Rangers, and their counterparts putting on impressive displays. Day 1 closed with food, laughter, and reflection under the Accra evening sky.

DAY 2 picked up with greater focus and a sense of purpose. After the morning game briefing, the pitch once again came alive. The matches grew more competitive as teams like Ampoh FC, Scores of VGP, and FC Silina vied for top spots, while the girls continued to impress with their teamwork and tactical finesse. In the afternoon, Dauaride Empere returned to the stage, this time delivering a thought-provoking session entitled “AccraWOPs – Why We Need a Code of Conduct (RULES) in Football.” His talk set the stage for one of the most powerful activities of the programme: co-creating “OUR PRO CODE” – a Code of Conduct Charta shaped entirely by the players themselves. It was more than a list of rules; it became a shared vision, a document of pride and ownership. The energy was infectious, and it carried into the remaining matches of the day, culminating once again with a shared meal and stories exchanged among teammates and new friends.

DAY 3 was all about legacy. After the morning’s Game Info Session, the girls gave their final pushes in powerful matchups, while the boys played for 3rd and 4th place. But the morning wasn’t only about winning or losing, it was about leaving a mark. Teams finalised their contributions to OUR PRO CODE, adding their voices to a document that would stand long after the tournament’s final whistle. Legal literacy then took the spotlight, as Theophilus Kwampong Abuah, an expert in sports law, spoke passionately about the rights and responsibilities of young footballers navigating their future careers. The conversations sparked deep questions and revealed a hunger for knowledge beyond the sport.

The afternoon hosted a high-energy penalty shootout that had everyone cheering, followed by the long-awaited final game that decided the champions of Accra WOPs. The Award Ceremony was more than just medals and handshakes, it was a celebration of growth, commitment, and transformation. Each team proudly signed the Code of Conduct Charta, now completed, and officially closed the event with a collective sense of achievement and unity.

DAY 4 turned the spotlight on the people who shape the players every day: the coaches and team leads. In a focused session, 20 coaches from the 10 teams joined for discussions around the vision of Accra WOPs, the rationale behind the Code of Conduct, and their roles in translating the momentum of the event into long-term impact. With honest feedback and vibrant exchanges, the room came alive with ideas and commitments. A live demonstration of performance analysis using the Veo Camera system added a cutting-edge tech dimension to the day. Coach Ali Otman shared hands-on insights, while plans for next steps were laid down with clarity and collaboration.

As the sun set on Day 4, it was clear: Accra WOPs had been more than a programme, it was a movement. A place where football met future, where girls and boys came together in respect and ambition and where coaches as well as mentors stood side by side to guide the next generation. In a finale that captured the spirit of it all, IHF Organization Ghana’s Country Director, Nana Adomah Agyemang, stepped in as the closing animator. With Afrobeat rhythms swirling into the twilight, she led players, coaches and spectators in a choreographed celebration, i.e. a moment of joy, movement, freedom and pure emotion. The players left not only with memories, but with tools, networks and a code that will guide them wherever their journey takes them.