The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has organised its first-ever talent identification programme in the United Kingdom as part of efforts to discover and develop young players of Ghanaian descent for the country’s future national teams.
The programme brought together 40 players born in the UK but eligible to represent Ghana. All the players currently feature in Category One football academies across England, including top clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Everton.
The exercise was held in Bromley and was organised by the GFA in partnership with Coach Hene Sports Club, the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom, and Prince Lamona Consult.
Players between the U15 and U20 age groups participated in the scouting programme, where they were assessed by Ghana FA Technical Director Professor Joseph Mintah and FIFA Talent Coach Stuart McLaren. Coaches from Coach Hene Sporting Club also closely monitored the players during the session.
The initiative forms part of the GFA’s long-term strategy to strengthen Ghana’s national teams by identifying talented young players from the Ghanaian diaspora. Over the years, several foreign-born players of Ghanaian descent have gone on to represent the Black Stars and other national teams at different levels.
Officials involved in the programme expressed satisfaction with the quality and commitment shown by the players during the exercise. Many of the participants are regarded as promising talents currently developing in some of England’s top football academies.
The Ghana FA believes the programme will help create stronger connections between Ghana and young players abroad while also expanding the talent pool available for future competitions.
Following the success of the maiden event, the GFA is expected to extend the programme to include players in Category Two and Category Three academies, as well as grassroots football structures across the UK and other countries in the coming months.
