- Nations FC Seal CAF Confederation Cup Spot With Historic MTN FA Cup Triumph
Relegated Nations FC ended their season on a historic high after defeating Dreams FC 5-4 on penalties to win the 2025/26 MTN FA Cup following a tense final on Sunday.
The victory handed Nations FC their first-ever FA Cup title and secured the club a place in the qualifying round of next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, despite their relegation from the Ghana Premier League.
It was a remarkable ending to a difficult campaign.
The final produced a gripping contest that remained deadlocked after 120 minutes, before Nations FC held their nerve in the shootout to complete one of the most emotional cup triumphs in recent Ghanaian football history.
Nations FC started brightly and created several early opportunities as they sought to impose themselves on the game. Their attacking intent eventually paid off when they grabbed the opening goal, putting Dreams FC under pressure in the early stages of the encounter.
Dreams FC, however, responded strongly.
The former FA Cup champions maintained their composure despite going behind and gradually settled into the game, pushing forward in search of an equaliser.
Their persistence was rewarded before half-time as they drew level to ensure both sides went into the break tied.
The second half produced an entertaining and fiercely contested battle, with both teams creating openings but failing to find the decisive goal.
With the scores still level after regulation time, the match moved into extra time.
The additional 30 minutes brought several tense moments and frantic attacking efforts, but neither side could break the deadlock, forcing the final to be decided by penalties.
The drama intensified in the shootout as Nations FC converted five of their six spot-kicks.
Dreams FC, however, missed two crucial penalties, allowing Nations FC to seal a famous victory and spark wild celebrations among their players, technical team and supporters.
The triumph marks a remarkable turnaround for Nations FC, who suffered the disappointment of relegation from the Ghana Premier League on the final day of the season.
Their FA Cup success now offers a powerful silver lining to an otherwise painful campaign, giving the club not only silverware but also a route into continental football.
For Dreams FC, the defeat will be difficult to accept, particularly after fighting back in regulation time and taking the final all the way to penalties.
But for Nations FC, the night belonged to resilience.
A season that ended in league heartbreak has now been rescued by cup glory, a historic trophy and the promise of African football next season.
