President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has delivered a passionate message of encouragement to the Black Starlets ahead of their decisive final Group D encounter against South Africa at the ongoing 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The GFA President addressed the players and technical team through a Zoom meeting urging the team to stay united and believe in their ability despite a difficult start to the competition.
Ghana’s U-17 side heads into the crucial fixture under pressure after picking up just one point from their opening two matches.
The Starlets surrendered a two-goal advantage in their opening game against Algeria before settling for a draw and later suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a 10-man Senegal side.
With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Simeon-Okraku reminded the players that their current position in the group does not reflect the quality and effort invested in the team over the past year. “My mission here is to remind all of us that after almost 12 months of preparations, traveling to several places in Ghana to play friendlies and traveling to Ivory Coast to play friendly matches, we are sitting at the bottom of the table after two rounds of games,” he told the team.
The football administrator acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the team’s results but stressed that the players still have an opportunity to rewrite their story against South Africa.
Belief Still Strong Within GFA
According to Simeon-Okraku, the Black Starlets remain one of the country’s brightest youth teams despite the setbacks experienced in Morocco, insisting that both the GFA and Ghanaians continue to have confidence in the squad.
“A team that is well prepared and has shown a lot of promise is at the bottom of the table after matchday two with just one point. This is not the best situation, but the good thing is that we still have one more game to either stay in the competition or secure a play-off slot to fight for a place at the World Cup, which is our ultimate goal.”
Kurt Simeon-Okraku, GFA President
The President also assured the players that support from home remains unwavering and urged them to use Wednesday’s game as an opportunity to restore national pride. “I believe in this team despite the two setbacks, and my answer will always be yes if I am asked whether this is a good team. This is the same belief all Ghanaians have in you,” he added.
Simeon-Okraku explained that the purpose of the meeting was not to put additional pressure on the players but rather to motivate them at a critical moment in the competition.
“I asked for this meeting just to remind you that Ghanaians believe in you and we believe you will qualify. You have tomorrow to let the whole of Ghana talk about you.”
Kurt Simeon-Okraku
The GFA boss concluded his address with a direct challenge to the players to fight for victory and keep alive Ghana’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage and ultimately qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year. “Just go out there, play well, and win for Ghana,” he charged the team.
A Must Win Game in Sight
The Black Starlets now face a must-win situation against South Africa, with anything less to end their campaign at the group stage.
Victory, however, could revive their chances of advancing to the next round or securing a play-off opportunity for a place at the World Cup.
The team’s performances so far have drawn mixed reactions from supporters, especially after failing to hold onto their advantage against Algeria and struggling to break down Senegal despite the West Africans playing a large part of the game with ten men.
Nevertheless, the mood within camp appears focused ahead of the final group encounter, with the technical team and football authorities rallying behind the players in hopes of a strong response today in Morocco.
The Black Starlets, one of Africa’s most successful youth national teams, are seeking a return to global prominence after years of inconsistency at youth level.
Wednesday’s clash against South Africa could therefore prove pivotal not only for their tournament ambitions but also for the future of the current generation of players representing Ghana on the continental stage.
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