The Black Starlets’ nationwide talent identification programme moves to the Upper East Region as head coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle and his technical team continue efforts to discover promising young footballers for Ghana’s U-17 national team.
The scouting exercise will be held at the Kurt E.S. Okraku Technical Center in Winkongo, near Bolgatanga, with activities scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. The event is expected to attract young footballers from across the region, all hoping to impress the national team selectors.
As part of the assessment process, participants will take part in a series of matches and football-related activities designed to evaluate their technical skills, tactical awareness, physical strength, and overall potential.
The exercise forms part of Ghana’s preparations for future youth competitions, including the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship and other international tournaments.
Coach Mingle and his assistants are specifically targeting players born in 2010 and 2011. The technical team aims to identify talented youngsters who can form the core of future Black Starlets squads for the 2027 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Players who stand out during the regional screening will be invited to the next phase of the selection process at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. There, they will undergo further evaluation as coaches work towards building a strong and competitive national team.
The Upper East Region exercise follows a successful scouting programme held recently in the Upper West Region. It is part of a broader nationwide initiative aimed at ensuring that talented young footballers from all parts of Ghana are given the opportunity to showcase their abilities and compete for places in the national youth teams.
The Ghana Football Association’s new scouting approach seeks to identify talent at an early stage and provide a structured pathway for player development.
Officials believe the programme will help strengthen the Black Starlets by creating a steady pipeline of talented players capable of representing Ghana at continental and global competitions in the years ahead.
