The Ghana national U-17 team, the Black Starlets, will be led again by Abdul Karim Zito as head coach.
The 62-year-old was responsible for the Black Starlets side that failed to qualify for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and Fifa World Cup in 2019.
However, in January 2020, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) elevated him in terms of ranks to the U-20s.
Zito achieved instant success, leading the Black Satellites to conquer Wafu Zone-B and proceeded to win the U-20 Afcon hosted by Mauritania in 2021.
The Dreams FC Technical Director however failed to repeat the feat earlier this year, failing to qualify and defend the title at the upcoming 2022 U-20 Afcon and continued to suffer humiliation when they participated in the 2022 Toulon Tournament the following month.
Wafu-B U-20 Cup: Shock as champions Ghana crash out of Afcon qualifiers
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Ghana hosted the 2022 Wafu-B U-17 Cup in Cape Coast but missed out on qualifying for the Afcon.
2022 Wafu-B U-17 Cup: Hosts Ghana lose to Burkina, miss out on Afcon
As a result, the GFA has decided not to continue with coach Ben Fokuo and opted to bring Karim Zito back to the post.
Former Black Stars winger Laryea Kingston, as well as ex-Hearts of Oak captain Jacob Nettey, have also been appointed as assistant coaches.
Jerry Asare also joins Zito from the Black Satellites as goalkeepers’ trainer.
Now the Zito-led technical team has been entrusted with assembling a formidable squad for the 2024 edition of the Wafu Zone-B U-17 qualifiers for the 2025 U-17 Afcon.
Ironically, the GFA says “Abdul Karim Zito, Laryea Kingson and Jacob Nettey will steer the affairs of the national male U-17 team – otherwise known as Black Starlets for the next one year” meaning their jobs could come to an end even before the Wafu Zone-B U-17 qualifiers.
