BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has stepped up its nationwide youth development agenda with the unveiling of the third batch of players invited for screening into the Black Starlets — the national U-17 team.
The latest group, announced by Head Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum, was expected to report to camp on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE) in Prampram, where the ongoing assessment exercise is being held.
This structured screening programme forms part of the GFA’s renewed commitment to rebuilding the youth national teams after years of inconsistent performances on the continental stage.
Historically, the Black Starlets — once two-time FIFA U-17 World Champions and a respected powerhouse on the continent — have struggled to qualify for recent tournaments due to limited talent identification systems, poor scouting networks, and the absence of sustained youth development strategies.
In response, the current administration has introduced a nationwide open screening model aimed at discovering, nurturing, and grooming raw talent from districts, academies, and juvenile clubs.
The first and second batches of players successfully underwent comprehensive physical, technical, and tactical evaluations, supervised by the Starlets’ technical team.
These early phases reportedly drew hundreds of hopefuls seeking an opportunity to revive the glory days of the U-17 side.
The newly invited third batch will remain in camp until Tuesday, November 25, during which coaches will continue monitoring their performance, discipline, adaptability, and long-term potential.
According to insiders within the technical setup, the process is not merely a shortlisting exercise but part of a rigorous system to assemble a competitive and balanced team capable of qualifying for — and excelling at — the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place in Morocco.
The GFA sees the ongoing project as a critical foundation for building a sustainable youth pipeline that feeds into the U-20 and eventually the Black Stars.
Coach Ogum has repeatedly emphasized the need for meticulous talent identification, insisting that Ghana’s return to prominence at youth level requires “patience, structure, and a clear football philosophy.”
The third batch list has been released, with players expected to compete for limited spots in the final squad as the technical team continues its nationwide assessment tour.
The initiative signals the GFA’s broader ambition to overhaul the youth football architecture, restore the nation’s competitive edge, and return the Black Starlets to their historic standing as a continental force.
