Black Starlets coach, Laryea Kingston, has emphasized that the team’s primary goal is to qualify for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), having missed the last two editions.
The Starlets advanced to the semifinals of the ongoing WAFU Zone B Championship with a 2-0 victory over Benin on Tuesday evening at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
Goals from Mark Mensah Kagawa and Theophilus Ayamga ensured that Ghana's U-17 team finished the Group A matches unbeaten.
Speaking at the post-game press conference, Kingston, a former Ghana international, expressed his excitement about the possibility of qualifying for the 2025 AFCON.
"Since 2017, Ghanaians have not seen the quality of the team that we enjoyed during the 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001 eras when we had a strong squad. So, if we manage to qualify this team, it would be amazing. For me, it would be the greatest joy.
"I know Ghanaians are eagerly waiting for this. They have worked hard and put a lot of things in place for us to succeed. However, it has been challenging because other countries are also developing. But I believe we are on the right path. We take it one day at a time. Now that we are in the semifinals, my technical team and I will prepare for any team we face on Saturday. We will be ready to face any opponent that comes our way."
Ghana will now face the second-placed team from Group B in their next match, scheduled for Saturday. The finalists of the WAFU Zone B Championship will seal their place in the U-17 AFCON.