Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko will face Heart of Lions in Accra next Sunday 7th December in an Arthur Wharton charity match, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The Arthur Wharton Foundation representative in Ghana Kofi Bawuah has put the match together to commemorate the unveiling of his statue by the English FA last month.

Wharton, a Ghanaian, was the world’s first black professional footballer.

“We all heard the unveiling of statute for Arthur Wharton in England and it is only proper to do something in his native country Ghana,” Bawuah told GHANASoccernet.com.

“Initially, Kotoko were supposed to play Great Olympics who later withdrew so Lions have given us their word and so will play Kotoko.”

Wharton was born in Jamestown, Gold Coast (Ghana) in 1865 and played as an amateur for Darlington and Preston North End, and professionally for Rotherham Town and Sheffield United.

Reportedly, he was the first man in England to run 100 yards in 10 seconds.