Prosper Narteh Ogum has reaffirmed his commitment to merit-based selection as Ghana prepare for the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.The Black Starlets coach stressed that no player is guaranteed a place in the squad, insisting that selection will be based strictly on performance rather than reputation or club profile.Absolutely, player selection for the tournament will be based on merit. Thats exactly what has happened, and thats me, Ogum said on the Ghana Football Association podcast hosted by Patrick Akoto.Reflecting on previous tournaments, he explained that his approach has always been to focus on players ability and readiness rather than their backgrounds.We went to Ivory Coast and didnt know which clubs the players were coming from, and I didnt want to know. Whatever player gets on board the flight will be going based on merit, he added.Ghana are set to compete in a challenging Group D alongside Senegal, Algeria and South Africa in their first appearance at the U17 AFCON in nearly a decade. The tournament also serves as qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup, adding further importance to the campaign.Ogum also pointed to the psychological demands of tournament football, warning about the impact of what he described as tournament fever.What we have to do now is basically about tournament fever. Tournament fever is when players get to the tournament, and the ambience and everything create anxiety and fear. If we can control this, then the players will play to the expectations of Ghanaians, he said.Having earlier played down pressure around the team, Ogums latest comments underline a clear focus on preparation, discipline and mental readiness as Ghana target a strong return on the continental stage.
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