Prosper Ogum: Black Starlets Set Sights on U17 World Cup After AFCON Qualification

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Oct 1, 2025

Head coach of Ghana’s Under-17 national team, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has expressed his delight at the Black Starlets’ qualification for the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following their impressive 2-0 victory over Nigeria in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B Championship.

Ogum described the achievement as only the beginning of a bigger journey, stressing that his young side is fully determined to progress beyond the continental stage and secure a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup.

“Qualifying for the U17 AFCON is just the first step. We are motivated to go further and represent Ghana at the U17 World Cup,” he stated.

Ghana’s U17 side, historically one of Africa’s most successful youth teams, has previously won the FIFA U17 World Cup on two occasions (1991 and 1995) and finished as runners-up twice (1993 and 1997). However, it has been years since the Black Starlets made a significant impact on the global stage, and Ogum believes this new generation has the talent and drive to restore Ghana’s dominance in youth football.

The Black Starlets will now prepare for the WAFU Zone B final, while attention also shifts to next year’s AFCON in Morocco, where the top four teams will earn automatic qualification to the 2027 FIFA U17 World Cup.

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.

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