Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has rallied the Black Starlets ahead of their decisive Group D showdown against South Africa at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Ghana Football Association president addressed the players and technical team through a Zoom session on Tuesday evening following the squad’s final training session before the must-win encounter.
With Ghana sitting bottom of Group D after a 2-2 draw against Algeria and a 1-0 defeat to Senegal, the Black Starlets must defeat South Africa to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage and qualifying for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
During his address, Okraku reminded the players of the sacrifices and preparations made over the past year and urged them not to lose confidence despite the difficult start to the tournament.
“My mission here is to remind all of us that after almost 12 months of preparations, travelling to several places in Ghana to play friendlies and travelling to Ivory Coast to play friendly matches, we are sitting at the bottom of the table after two rounds of games,” he said.
Despite Ghana’s position in the group, the GFA president maintained that he still strongly believes in the quality of the team.
“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.
Okraku further challenged the players to rise to the occasion and fight for the nation in the crucial fixture.
“Just go out there, play well, and win for Ghana,” he urged.
The Black Starlets will now be aiming to revive their campaign with a victory against South Africa in their final group-stage match.