Frank Acheampong has won the Chinese Super League with Dalian Yingbo FC after the club completed a remarkable final-day turnaround to claim their first league championship.
Dalian started the final round three points behind Chengdu Rongcheng, who had led the table for much of the 2026 campaign. They kept their hopes alive by beating Tianjin Jinmen Tigers 3-1 in front of 60,000 supporters.
Chengdu, meanwhile, suffered a 3-2 defeat away to Shandong Taishan, allowing Dalian to move above them and take the title.
The result completed a dramatic collapse for Chengdu, who had held a 14-point advantage during the closing stages of the season. They lost their final four matches, despite needing only one point from those games to guarantee the championship.
Both teams ended the season level on points, while Chengdu had the better goal difference. Dalian were nevertheless crowned champions because of their superior head-to-head record, having won both of their league meetings with Chengdu Rongcheng.
Acheampong played a major role in Dalian’s success, finishing the 2025/26 season with 12 goals and four assists.
The Ghanaian winger produced one of the defining performances of the title race when he scored all four goals in a 4-0 victory over Qingdao West Coast. That result helped Dalian maintain their challenge during the decisive run-in.
His four-goal display came as Chengdu’s advantage was beginning to disappear and proved important in keeping Dalian within reach of the leaders before the final round.
The championship is the latest achievement in Acheampong’s career in Chinese football. Before joining Dalian, he was Henan FC’s leading scorer during the 2024/25 season, scoring 14 goals in 30 appearances.
Acheampong’s move to Dalian followed that productive campaign and he continued to make a significant contribution at his new club. His 12 goals and four assists helped the side recover from their position behind Chengdu and ultimately win the title on the final day.
For Dalian Yingbo FC, the victory represents the club’s maiden Chinese Super League championship. For Acheampong, it adds a major honour to his career abroad and further reflects his influence in China’s top flight.
