Former Black Stars head coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor has heaped praise on Ghana’s next generation of footballers, lauding their performances and attitude in recent call-ups to the Black Stars.
Akonnor, who managed the senior side between 2020 and 2021, believes the youthful talents currently breaking into the team are showing encouraging signs of maturity, hunger, and technical quality.
Speaking in an interview with Graphic Sports, Akonnor highlighted the progress made by players such as Caleb Yirenkyi, Mohammed Fuseini, Lawrence Agyekum, and others who donned the national colours in the recent Unity Cup.
“The victory against Trinidad and Tobago was good enough to lift their confidence ahead of any competitive match,” Akonnor said.
“I like the way Jordan showed great leadership on the field of play. It will give the young ones confidence in their game.”
Akonnor, known for giving several young players their debut during his tenure, expressed pride in seeing some of those talents now becoming mainstays in the squad. He emphasized that the development of the new lads in the team is a positive step towards building a more competitive and resilient national team.
“Potentially, the young players have good talent. In some time to come, this generation will fade and it will give the coach an opportunity for replacement,” he added.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in view, the former Wolfsburg captain stressed the importance of continuity, proper mentoring, and game time for the young players.
By: Pascal Amoah
