Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle and his technical team have successfully completed the first phase of their nationwide talent identification programme following a scouting exercise in the Upper West Region.
The exercise took place on Thursday at the Malik Jabir Sports Stadium in Wa, where dozens of young footballers from across the region showcased their abilities in a bid to earn a place in Ghana’s next U-17 national team.
Mingle, assisted by members of his technical staff, including goalkeepers’ coach Stephen Ahorlu, closely assessed the players’ technical skills, tactical awareness, physical attributes and overall potential. The exercise forms part of preparations for the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
The scouting programme is a key component of the Ghana Football Association’s youth development strategy, designed to identify talented players from all parts of the country and provide equal opportunities for selection into the national teams.
Following the successful session in Wa, the technical team will continue its talent search in the Upper East Region at the Kurt E.S. Okraku Technical Centre in Winkongo, Bolgatanga, before extending the exercise to the Northern Region and other parts of Ghana.
The month-long nationwide programme aims to assemble a competitive Black Starlets squad for the WAFU Zone B Championship. Players selected through the process could also form the nucleus of Ghana’s teams for future U-17 continental and global competitions, including the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The GFA believes the initiative will strengthen Ghana’s youth football pathway and help uncover the next generation of national team stars.
