Soccer Intellectuals’ 15-Year-Old Goalkeeper Earns Ghana U17 Call-Up

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Jan 17, 2026

Fifteen-year-old goalkeeper John Annan has been named in the Ghana 🇬🇭 Under-17 provisional squad ahead of preparations for this year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

An emerging talent in Ghanaian football, Annan is a student of Adiembra Senior High School and currently plies his trade with Division One League side Soccer Intellectuals Sporting Club, where his performances have drawn attention from national team selectors.

Despite his young age, the highly-rated shot-stopper has impressed with his maturity, confidence and composure between the posts, earning him a place among the pool of players selected for the Black Starlets’ preliminary camping and assessment phase. His inclusion reflects the technical team’s commitment to identifying and nurturing promising talent ahead of the continental championship.

The provisional squad is expected to undergo an intensive training programme and a series of preparatory matches as Ghana steps up its build-up to the U17 AFCON, with Annan hoping to secure a place in the final squad for the tournament.

Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

View all posts