Black Starlets head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has expressed his delight after steering Ghana to qualification for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana sealed their place at the continental showpiece with a 2-0 victory over rivals Nigeria in the semifinals of the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship on Tuesday night at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
Goals from Michael Awuli and Robinho Yao Gavi were enough to hand the Black Starlets a well-deserved win, continuing their resurgence after a shaky start to the tournament.
Speaking to Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, after the match, Ogum revealed the emotional weight behind the encounter.
“I was motivated to play against Nigeria. I spoke to the players and explained to them why we cannot afford to lose against Nigeria.
“I told them I do not hold their passport to the AFCON, but they rather do and did exactly as we planned.
“A lot of things went through my mind because I was told the plan was to qualify for the AFCON, and achieving the target is something that I am proud of,” he added.
The result not only books Ghana’s place in Friday’s final against hosts Côte d’Ivoire, who beat the Black Starlets 3-0 in the group stage, but also secures a long-awaited return to the U-17 AFCON.
Ghana will be making their first appearance at the continental tournament since 2017.
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