Black Starlets head coach Prosper Ogum has called for greater composure from his players after Ghana sealed a semi-final spot at the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Ivory Coast.
The Starlets bounced back from a shaky start drawing with Togo and losing to hosts Ivory Coast to beat Niger 3-1 in a must-win clash on Friday in Yamoussoukro.
Mark Kagawa Mensah and Robinho Yao Gavi struck late to secure the win after an early setback, keeping Ghana’s hopes alive in a tournament that also serves as qualifiers for the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Both teams played very well. Niger were organised defensively and tried to catch us on the break. We needed a win, so we pressed and exploited spaces behind them,” Ogum said. “The early parts were difficult, but we found our rhythm in the middle and created chances to win.”
He stressed, however, that patience remains the team’s biggest weakness.
“We have to try as much as possible to be patient; it’s something we lack. These are young boys, and sometimes they get carried away by the atmosphere in the stadium, so they rush decisions. Once we stay composed, we can play our football,” he added.
Ghana will discover their semi-final opponent on Saturday as the competition heads into its decisive stage.
