AFCON U-17: Ghana’s Prosper Ogum discusses the threat posed by Algeria

The head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has shared his thoughts ahead of the Black Starlets’ U-17  AFCON opener against Algeria this Thursday.

The Black Starlets are set to battle the North Africans in a high-stakes Group D opener at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT. While Prosper Ogum expressed immense confidence in his squad’s capabilities, he remains wary of the challenge Algeria presents.

Ghana has previously secured two U-17 AFCON titles

“We respect every opponent, but we also maintain great belief in our own quality and the level of our preparation,” Ogum noted. “Our primary focus is to take the tournament one match at a time and ensure we give our absolute best in every single game.

“We are anticipating a highly competitive and tactical encounter. Algeria is a formidable side with strong organizational structures both defensively and offensively. Opening matches are inherently difficult because every team is desperate to start their campaign on a positive note,” he told CAFOnline.

He further emphasized that tactical discipline and mental composure would be the decisive factors in determining the eventual outcome of the encounter.

“We must remain disciplined, focused, and clinical whenever scoring opportunities arise. I believe it will be an excellent contest between two very strong teams.”

Ghana will be aiming to launch their U-17 AFCON campaign with a victory as they look to progress from a formidable Group D lineup. With Senegal and South Africa completing the group, Prosper Ogum admitted that the path forward would be challenging.

“It is definitely an incredibly competitive group because all four teams have earned their right to be here and possess genuine quality,” Ogum told CAFOnline.

“Senegal is the defending champion from 2023, Algeria is exceptionally organized, and South Africa boasts a very strong football culture. At this advanced stage of the competition, there are simply no easy games.”

The tournament is scheduled to take place between May 13 and June 2, with the top 10 finishing teams qualifying as CAF representatives for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar