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Black Starlets boss talks about their preparations for the upcoming Wafu B Nations Cup
Ghana coach Ben Fokuo has set his sights on returning the Black Starlets to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after the team failed to qualify for the 2019 edition.
After a six-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the two-time champions are set to resume camp on Sunday before the next Wafu Zone B Cup of Nations in Benin.
The players’ team has been called in to resume training at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Technical Center on Tuesday.
“It has been a long time since we were successful with the U17 team,” Fokuo told the official GFA website.
“We need to work harder, plan well and have double training and raise our games to the level of previous U-17 teams. That is what I and the coaching team are aiming for so that we can regain that love for the people to see what new breed of U17 players.
“We are working very hard to have a formidable team that represents the nation and that’s why the guys are working hard for us to get that glory back.”
“If the U-17 team is successful, we can get a formidable team for the U-20 team and the senior team, the Black Stars, so we will do our best, people should be careful with this team.
“I can assure you that the materials I have now, I think that despite having a short period to train and prepare for the tournament, they will see a new U-17 team and no one will dishonor them in the tournament. They will be happy and they will see us there in future competitions “.
Ghana failed to qualify for the last Afcon after finishing second to arch rival Nigeria at the Wafu B tournament in Niger.
The Black Starlets are two-time continental champions, as they are world champions.
“The pandemic has affected us a lot because we now have about a month to prepare the team and that is why the things we have to go through when we have enough time to prepare the team for a competition have been reduced to less than two months of preparation” . ”Fokuo added.
“We don’t have games to play now because the teams are locked in. So we can’t play competitive games with the local teams. We are going to have a program that will get the guys in shape so we can get closer.” where we need to, before we get to the match period. “
Ghana finished second in their last appearance (2017) in the Afcon U17, and they went ahead to participate in the world championship where they reached the quarter-finals.
