Coach of the Black Starlets
Black Starlets coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has expressed pride in the performance of Ghana’s U17 side following their impressive 3-1 victory over South Africa at the U17 AFCON in Morocco.
He has insisted that the Black Starlets are still determined to secure a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup.
Speaking after the crucial win, Ogum described the encounter as a “very beautiful game,” praising his team’s structure, composure, and tactical discipline throughout the match.
“We had our structure in place very well in terms of trying to control the game,” he said. “We created and scored early goals, and that gave the boys confidence and belief,” he said.
The coach explained that Ghana successfully neutralised South Africa’s direct style of play by pressing aggressively and denying them space to launch long balls behind the defence.
“It was a game of two different styles. They wanted to go direct, while we focused on keeping possession, passing, creating chances and scoring,” he added.
Ogum also credited his tactical changes and alterations to the starting lineup for the improved display compared to previous games against Algeria and Senegal.
“The changes we made really helped us. We spoke to the boys individually and as groups to keep their confidence high,” he revealed.
The former Asante Kotoko coach singled out Latif and captain Joseph Naby for their impact, with Latif winning two penalties and Naby calmly converting both.
According to him, the technical team identified weaknesses in South Africa’s flanks and prepared specifically to exploit them through video analysis and tactical sessions.
“We realised their right-back lacked pace, so we used Naby’s speed behind him. On the other side, Latif’s technical ability and 1v1 qualities gave us an advantage,” he explained.
The coach also opened up on the emotional disappointment after Ghana narrowly missed automatic qualification to the knockout stage and a World Cup ticket through a ballot system involving Algeria.
“It wasn’t pleasant news for us at all,” Ogum admitted. “But I quickly told the boys that although we were out of the next stage, the ultimate goal was still to qualify for the World Cup.”
He praised the mentality of the players, revealing the technical team held several one-on-one and group discussions to motivate the squad before the South Africa clash.
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“We made them understand it was a make-or-break game. They had to fight for each other and fight for themselves,” he said.
Despite exiting the main competition, Ogum remains optimistic that the Black Starlets can still secure qualification through the playoff route.
“It is the dream of every player and every coach to compete at the World Cup. The importance of this playoff is massive, and we are ready to go the extra mile to achieve that slot," he stressed.
PAH/EB
“When it comes to the FIFA World Cup, you cannot tell the story without mentioning Asamoah Gyan,” former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan said in an interview after his official appointment as brand ambassador for Ghana’s national teams and colts football.#ghanaweb#ghanawebtv pic.twitter.com/XnNCrfn1TD
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