Black Starlets head coach, Dr Prosper Narteh Ogum, has lauded his players’ fighting spirit after Ghana battled to a 1-1 draw against Togo in the 2025 WAFU Zone B U17 Boys Championship on Saturday in Yamoussoukro.
The Starlets faced an early setback when defender Gabriel Denyinah was sent off in the second minute, leaving Ghana with 10 men for nearly the entire match. Despite the numerical disadvantage, captain Joseph Narbi put the team ahead in the ninth minute, finishing off a Mark Aboagye cross.
Togo, however, drew level after the break when Sultan Ganiou converted from the penalty spot, ensuring both sides shared the spoils.
Speaking after the game, Dr. Ogum praised his players for their discipline and composure under pressure.
“Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage for almost the entire match, they played to my instructions and were very disciplined. That is the kind of mentality we want to build in this team.”
The coach also singled out skipper Joseph Narbi, who was named Man of the Match, for his leadership and influence.
“Joseph showed great character and leadership on the pitch today. His goal and overall contribution inspired the rest of the team,” the coach added.
Looking ahead, Ogum stressed that the encounter had provided vital lessons for his young side.
“We will go back, review our performance and work on our finishing. We created chances even with ten men, and that shows the potential of this group,” he said.
Ghana will take on hosts Ivory Coast in their second Group A fixture on Tuesday.
