2026 U-17 AFCON: We are going to win – Nana Agyemang sets bold target for Black Starlets

Black Starlets assistant coach Nana Kweku Agyemang has declared that Ghana is not heading to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) merely to compete, but with the singular objective of bringing the trophy home.

The 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin on April 25, 2026, and will run through May 15, 2026, in Morocco.

While the field is set, the final tournament draw to place these teams into their respective groups has not yet been conducted by CAF.

Speaking after the team’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Ghana Premier League side Heart of Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, Agyemang remained undeterred by the result.

He emphasized that the technical team, led by Dr. Prosper Nartey Ogum, is confident in the tactical foundation being laid and the dedication shown by the current crop of players.

"We are not just going to participate; we are going to win the AFCON," Agyemang told Citi Sports. "We know that we have what it takes as a technical team and the players are working hard to win."

The assistant coach noted that the friendly matches, including the narrow loss to the Lions, serve as vital benchmarks to test the squad’s resilience against senior opposition.

These exercises are part of an intensive buildup for the tournament, which kicks off in Morocco on April 25.

Ghana is returning to the continental stage after a nine-year absence, having last appeared in 2017.