Coach Charles Sampson has underscored the need for a strong domestic football structure to feed into Ghana’s U-20 women’s team, emphasising that most of the squad’s players are drawn from the local leagues.
Since taking over the team, he has actively monitored domestic competitions, including the Women’s Premier League and Division One, to assess talent.
“I intentionally wanted to watch local games because most of our U-20 players were scouted from Division One,” Sampson revealed. “I watched a Premier League game as well, so I have a fair idea of how things look.”
He also attended the WAFU B U-17 Women’s Cup of Nations and was impressed by the talent pool, stating that some players from the U-17 team could be integrated into the Black Princesses setup.
“The U-17 team had some players who looked almost ready to step up,” he said. “Even though it’s a higher age category for them, we could pick a few players who have what it takes to compete.”
Sampson believes Ghana’s strong youth football system provides a good foundation, but ensuring consistency and proper player development will be key to success on the global stage.