Regulations

Tournament rules and regulations

Accra Cup is an open tournament for both registered and non-registered clubs and schools. It is conducted in accordance with FIFA regulations and the Ghana Football Association’s guidelines. Teams are welcome to participate regardless of whether they are officially registered with a national FIFA-affiliated association. Schools with teams affiliated with their national football association are also eligible to compete. All players must be affiliated with the team they are representing.

The jury supervises the football tournament to ensure it is conducted in a fair and proper manner. It addresses protests, rule interpretations, and any issues of uncertainty.

The decisions made by the jury are final and cannot be appealed.

Boys:

  • B15 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2010 and later
  • B14 Boys (11:11) (7:7) born 1.1.2011 and later

 

Girls:

  • G15 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2010 and later

An automatic dispensation allows for the inclusion of up to 2 players who are 1 year older than the required age limit. Additionally, the jury can issue dispensations under special circumstances, setting the specific terms for these cases.

A player who meets the age criteria may participate in two teams from the same club, provided the teams compete in different divisions. Girls who meet the age requirements are permitted to join boys’ teams. The Accra Cup tournament rules also permit guest players and allow multiple clubs to form joint teams.

A participant list must be submitted before the tournament begins. Once check-in is completed, no additional players can be added to the list. To be eligible to play, a player must be listed on the participant roster and the participation fee must be paid.

Players must present their photo ID at check-in and during matches if requested by the jury or their representative. During check-in, the ID will be verified against the participant list, and an age check will be conducted.

Random age and eligibility checks will occur throughout the tournament. If a team uses an ineligible player or fails to present proper identification, it may result in forfeiting the match. The jury determines what constitutes satisfactory identification.

B15 and G15 = 2 x 30 minutes


B14 = 2 x 25 minutes

Teams are divided into groups of four, where each team plays against every other team in their group. Team standings are determined by points as follows:
 
•A win earns 3 points
•A draw earns 1 point
•A loss earns 0 points
 
In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the ranking is decided by:
 
1.Goal difference across all matches
2.Total goals scored
3.Points in head-to-head matches
4.A lottery if needed
 
The tournament administration conducts the draw, and teams not present will be informed of the results. The top two teams from each group advance to the A play-offs, which follow a knockout format where the losing team is eliminated.

In the preliminary rounds of the playoffs, ties are resolved by a penalty shootout.

For semi-finals and finals, if the match ends in a tie, it will be decided by 2 x 5 minutes of extra time. If the tie persists after extra time, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.

The penalty shootouts follow FIFA rules. Players who were substituted during the match may participate in the shootout, ensuring both teams have the same number of shooters.

Accra Cup follows the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) and Ghana Football Association's (GFA)’s rules with the following modifications:
 
Number of Players:
 
A maximum of 18 players may be used in a match, including up to 7 substitute players.
 
Substitutions:
 
• All players can be substituted and reinserted freely (free substitution).
• The referee must be notified before any substitution can be made, allowing them to stop the game if necessary.
• The player being replaced must exit the field before the substitute enters.
• Goalkeeper substitutions must be announced to the referee and can only occur during a stoppage in play. The referee may deny a goalkeeper substitution if it appears to be for delaying tactics.
 
Ball Size:
 
•In classes B14, size 4 balls are used.
•In  classes B15 and G15, size 5 balls are used.
 
Jerseys:
 
• Jerseys must be numbered with unique numbers for each player.
• Players must wear the same shirt number throughout all team matches.
• If teams have the same jersey color, the team scheduled last must change its color.
 
Leg Braces:
 
• Leg braces are mandatory for all players.
• Players without leg braces will be removed from the pitch until the issue is resolved.​
• Incorrect substitutions are subject to a warning.

Teams must have at least 7 players ready to start at the scheduled match time. 

If a team is not ready at the appointed time, the match can still proceed. It can start with a delay of up to 10 minutes. If a team is not prepared in time and no special circumstances are present, the match may be declared a loss for the team if protested.

Special circumstances, such as sudden illness or a traffic accident, may be considered. In such cases, the tournament jury will decide whether to uphold the result of the delayed match or to reschedule it.

Players sent off are automatically barred from participating in the team’s next match. This rule also applies to the team’s coach if they are expelled.

In certain cases, the tournament jury may impose a harsher penalty, such as for a player who is found to have been quarantined but played.

If the exclusion extends beyond one match, formal written notification of the suspension will be provided.

If a team fails to show up for a match, loses by protest, or is excluded from the tournament, the match result is recorded as 0-3 in favor of the opposing team. If a team is disqualified during the group stage, all of its match results are adjusted to 0-3.

Protests about matches must be submitted in writing by the team’s manager to the tournament jury within one hour after the match ends. Decisions made by the jury are final and cannot be appealed.

Protests related to ball size, shin guards, jersey numbers, and participant wristbands will not be considered. Once a playoff round begins, results from previous rounds cannot be altered unless there is a timely submitted, unresolved protest.

 The jury’s decisions are final and cannot be challenged.

The tournament schedule will be made available three days before the tournament begins on www.accracup.com. The tournament administration retains the right to alter group compositions, venues, match times, and other details as needed. Any modifications made after the initial publication will be updated, and the final schedule will be posted on www.accracup.com on Saturday, August 1, 2025. Teams are responsible for staying informed about the final schedule. If there are changes after the final schedule is published, affected teams will be contacted directly. Teams can also request a printed version of their final tournament schedule either during check-in or by contacting Accra Cup’s Information.

Immediately following a match, a manager or coach from each team must go to the referee to verify the match result by signing the scorecard.

Prepare your team for success

Get your team fully prepared by reviewing our comprehensive regulations. Ensure you meet all requirements and understand the rules to compete effectively and avoid any last-minute issues.

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