Nathaniel Adjei stole the show with five goals as Greater Accra dismantled Upper East 6-0 in a breathtaking opening-day performance at the 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Championship on Wednesday, August 25.
Adjei needed just 60 seconds to get his name on the scoresheet, setting the tone for what would become a remarkable individual performance.
He struck again in the 36th minute before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot four minutes before half-time. Greater Accra went into the break 3-0 ahead and firmly in control.
There was no let-up after the restart. Adjei found the net again in the 49th minute before completing his five-goal masterpiece in the 54th minute.
Evans Ketu added a sixth goal to seal a comprehensive victory and give Greater Accra an ideal start to their Group B campaign.
Elsewhere in Group B, Central Region came from behind twice before snatching a dramatic 3-2 victory over Northern Region in a thrilling encounter at the GFA Technical Hub.
Abubakar Salim put Northern Region ahead in the first minute, but Desmond Korletey responded almost immediately to make it 1-1.
Salim restored Northern's lead in the 30th minute with his second goal, only for Korletey to level the contest again in the 56th minute.
Just when a 2-2 draw appeared likely, Hope Gamet struck two minutes into regulation time to give Central Region a dramatic victory.
The opening-day results have injected early excitement into Group B and underlined the competitive quality of the MTN Elite U-19 Championship.
The tournament remains a vital development platform for Ghana's emerging football talents, offering young players the chance to develop their technical and tactical qualities while gaining experience in a competitive environment.
Sponsored by MTN Ghana, the championship is a key component of the Ghana Football Association's “Power to the Youth” initiative, which aims to establish a clear pathway for talented youngsters from grassroots football into the professional game and Ghana's national teams.
GFA Communications