Laryea Kingston, the coach of Ghana's U17 national team, the Black Starlets, was taken aback by their 3-1 defeat against Russia in the opening game of the 2024 UEFA U16 Invitational Tournament.
Despite the setback, Kingston noted significant improvement in their subsequent matches.
Following their unexpected loss to the host nation, the Black Starlets bounced back with impressive 5-1 victories in their following games. Kingston emphasized the team's ability to learn from setbacks, highlighting their resilience and determination.
Despite the initial disappointment, Kingston commended his team's performance, acknowledging their promising qualities on the field.
“We had our first loss since the Technical team took over. For us, it was very shocking... But for me, I think our next game against Serbia, they learned from their mistakes and then they came out playing very well."
Now, with valuable lessons learned, the Black Starlets are focusing on the upcoming WAFU B U17 Cup of Nations. They are gearing up to face Cote d'Ivoire in Accra next Wednesday, followed by a match against Benin six days later.
To prepare, Ghana will engage Niger in a preparatory game, aiming to fine-tune their strategies and build momentum for the tournament ahead.
