Prosper Ogum Confident as Black Starlets Prepare for U17 AFCON
Black Starlets head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum says he is not feeling any pressure as Ghana prepares for the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting his technical team is well organised and focused on their objectives.
Ghana will be returning to the tournament for the first time since 2017, and expectations are naturally high as the team seeks to re-establish itself among Africa’s strongest youth sides. The squad departed Ghana over the weekend for Côte d’Ivoire, where they will conclude final preparations ahead of the competition, which begins next month.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ogum downplayed suggestions of mounting pressure, stressing that careful planning and structure have been central to their build-up.
“I don’t think so. I don’t feel the pressure. It’s about trying to structure your programmes well. Together with the technical team, we have structured our programme,” he said when asked whether there was pressure to deliver results.
He explained that the team is working within a clear framework designed to ensure steady progress and consistency. According to him, the preparation has been deliberate, with each phase building on the previous one to get the best out of the players.
“We have a framework within which we are working. We are taking it step by step. We make sure it is sequential, and there is an alignment. And because we are doing that, we are getting the best out of the boys,” he added.
Ghana has been drawn in Group D of the tournament and will open their campaign against Algeria on May 14. They will then face Senegal on May 17 before concluding the group stage against South Africa on May 20.
