Nana Kweku Agyemang, assistant coach of the Ghana U-17 Black Starlets, has set an ambitious target ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting the team is not just participating, but aiming to lift the trophy.
The tournament is scheduled to run from April 25 to May 15, 2026, in Morocco. While CAF has yet to conduct the final draw, Ghana’s technical staff are confident in the squad’s readiness.
Speaking after a narrow 2-1 friendly defeat to Ghana Premier League side Heart of Lions FC at the Accra Sports Stadium, Agyemang remained upbeat.
“We are not just going to participate; we are going to win the AFCON,” he 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 emphasized that friendly matches against senior opposition, including the loss to the Lions, serve as important tests for the players’ resilience and tactical understanding.
Ghana is returning to the U-17 continental stage after a nine-year absence, having last competed in the 2017 edition, and the Black Starlets are determined to make a statement in Morocco.
