Prosper Narteh Ogum, head coach of the Black Starlets, has expressed confidence that his side is fully prepared ahead of the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to kick off in Morocco next month.
Ghana has been drawn in a competitive Group D, where they will face Senegal, South Africa, and Algeria in the continental youth tournament.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show, Ogum acknowledged the strength of their opponents but stressed the importance of discipline and hard work for the team to progress.
“With the group we find ourselves in, we need to work extra hard because if you look at our group opponents, they have a strong young system, so we need to work extra hard and then move on,” he said.
He added that the players have responded positively to the draw, showing confidence and belief in their chances.
“The players followed the draw, and after that, they felt confident and optimistic,” Narteh Ogum noted.
The former Asante Kotoko coach further emphasised focus and determination as key ingredients for success, describing the tournament as one of the toughest on the continent.
“For us, as a team, we are ready, but all that we have to do is to stay focused and be very confident and then work extra hard because the best teams in Africa will meet in Morocco,” he added.
Ghana enters the competition with a strong pedigree, having won the U-17 AFCON title twice, in 1995 and 1999, and finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
The 2026 edition of the tournament will run from May 13 to June 2 in Morocco.
