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Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) have been crowned champions of the 2025 Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) Bankers Football League after edging Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) in a thrilling title race that went down to the final matchday.
GCB finished the 16-week competition with 38 points and a goal difference of +15, narrowly surpassing UMB, who amassed 36 points with a superior goal difference of +26. National Investment Bank (NIB) took third place with 31 points and a +18 goal difference.
The champions walked away with a trophy, gold medals, and a cash prize of GH¢10,000. UMB, as runners-up, received silver medals and GH¢6,000, while NIB took home bronze medals and GH¢4,000 for finishing third.
The Bank of Ghana’s Mustapha Abdulai was named the tournament’s Best Player after scoring nine goals, including a hat-trick, without converting a single penalty. The Fair Play Award went to United Bank for Africa (UBA), while Access Bank’s Kofi Delali Opare was voted Best Defender. UMB’s prolific forward Ishmael Aryee emerged as the Top Scorer with 25 goals, and GCB’s Julius Ablorh was adjudged Best Coach.
Reflecting on the team’s triumph, GCB captain George Paa Kwesi Adams described the victory as a story of resilience and determination. “Last season we finished second from bottom, and that experience motivated us to come back stronger this year,” he said. “We owe this success to our management, technical team, and the unity within the squad. We are confident we can retain the title next season.”
The final round of matches, played across the McDan Park and the St Thomas Aquinas SHS Park in Accra on October 18, 2025, saw intense competition as teams battled for final placements. GCB sealed the championship with a 1–0 win over Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), while UMB beat the Bank of Ghana 2–0 but still fell short in the title chase.
Other results from the McDan Park included S.G drawing 0–0 with CBG, Cal Bank losing 1–2 to Access Bank, Zenith Bank defeating OmniBSIC 2–1, and Republic Bank edging S.G 1–0. UBA held GTCO to a goalless draw, while OmniBSIC later overcame Cal Bank 2–0 and NIB thrashed Zenith Bank 3–0.
At the St Thomas Aquinas SHS Park, Republic Bank stunned ABSA 4–1, Stanbic Bank drew 1–1 with Ecobank, and FirstBank beat the Bank of Ghana 1–0. GCB’s decisive 1–0 win over CBG confirmed their league triumph, capping an impressive turnaround season.
The 2025 GAB Bankers Football League once again showcased the growing enthusiasm for corporate sportsmanship among Ghana’s banking institutions, blending competition, teamwork, and camaraderie in a spirited display of fitness and fair play.
