Black Starlets head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has urged his players to remain calm and focused as Ghana prepares to open its campaign at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations against Algeria tonight in Morocco.
Speaking ahead of the Group D opener at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Ogum stressed that while playing for Ghana always comes with huge expectations, the players must not allow pressure to affect their performance.
Instead, he wants them to embrace the challenge with confidence and discipline.
“We constantly remind the players to stay calm and focus on the process rather than the pressure outside,” Ogum said.
“Playing for Ghana always comes with expectations, but we encourage them to see it as motivation instead of fear,” he continued.
The Black Starlets will face Algeria U-17 at 19:00 GMT in what is expected to be a tough opening match.
Ghana has been placed in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, making it one of the most competitive groups in the tournament.
Ogum, who has experience coaching in Ghana’s domestic league, believes his team is mentally prepared for the task ahead.
He has praised the unity, discipline and commitment shown by the squad during preparations, insisting that teamwork will be key to success.
Ghana enters the competition to revive its strong tradition in youth football. The Black Starlets are two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winners and have also lifted the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations trophy twice in the past.
