Prosper Narteh hails Black Starlets’ strong response after Ivory Coast rout

Black Starlets coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his team following their friendly doubleheader against Ivory Coast, describing the exercise as a valuable test ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Ghana U17 team faced their West African rivals in two preparatory matches, suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first encounter before bouncing back emphatically with a commanding 4-0 victory in the return fixture at the Stade Alassane Ouattara.

After the games, Ogum highlighted the tactical intensity of the encounters, noting that familiarity between the two sides made both matches highly competitive.

“I think it was a very tactical game looking at the fact that we played each other, we knew how each team was going to play,” Ogum said in comments published by the Ghana Football Association.

“We knew it was going to be a very difficult and challenging game based on the backdrop that we lost and they were very confident. But I think we did well to overcome that loss by rediscovering our confidence, staying focused, and preparing well for the second game.”

The coach praised his team’s response, emphasizing their renewed confidence and determination on the pitch. “It reflected in our zeal and confidence on the field. It was a very good game, and I will describe it in one sentence—it was very tactical,” he added.

Ghana heads into the tournament aiming to secure a third continental title, having previously lifted the trophy in 1995 and 1999. Drawn in a challenging Group D, the Black Starlets will face South Africa, Algeria, and Senegal.

The competition is scheduled to run from May 13 to June 2 in Morocco, with ten teams set to qualify for the expanded 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.