U-17 AFCON: Ghana coach hails team performance in Ivory Coast friendly

Ghana U-17 national team head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has reacted positively after their friendly doubleheader against Ivory Coast.

The Black Starlets engaged the Young Elephants over two games in preparation for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (U-17 AFCON) in Morocco.

The first fixture saw Ivory Coast humble their neighbors 2-0, with the Black Starlets making amends in the reverse game with a 4-0 win at the Stade Alassane Ouattara.

Ghana is chasing a third trophy in the competition and Prosper Ogum hailed the exercise ahead of the competition.

🎥 #BlackStarlets Head Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum shares his thoughts following an impressive win over Côte d’Ivoire and discusses preparations ahead of the U-17 AFCON. 🇬🇭🏆 pic.twitter.com/C99wbkgIPq

— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) May 1, 2026

“I think it was a very tactical game looking at the fact that we played each other we know how each team was going to play,” Prosper Ogum said in comments recorded by the Ghana Football Association’s website.

“We need it was going to be a very difficult game, a very challenging game based on the backdrop that we lost and they were very confident.

“I think we did well by trying to overcome that loss in terms of our ability to rediscover our confidence and stay focused and get ready for the game.

“I think it reflected in terms of our zeal on the field of play, in terms of our confidence so it was a very good game and I will describe it in one sentence that it was a very tactical game.”

The Black Starlets won the competition at the 1995 and the 1999 editions and they are paired against South Africa, Algeria and Senegal in Group D.

The junior tournament is set between May 13 and June 2 with ten countries qualifying for the expanded 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.