Prosper Ogum Outlines Tactical Blueprint for Starlets’ WAFU U17 Opener Against Togo
Black Starlets head coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has shed light on Ghana’s tactical framework ahead of their opening match against Togo in the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, stressing the importance of discipline in defence and purposeful possession play.
In an interview with GFA Communications, Ogum explained the principles that have been central to his team’s training sessions in Yamoussoukro.
“We went back to some of the tactical things we’ve been doing in terms of how we stay compact if we don’t have the ball. How we try to track the opponent’s running into space,” he noted.
The coach outlined a two-phase strategy—focusing on structure and compactness when out of possession, and fluid, intelligent play when attacking.
“When we have the ball how we stay expansive and then try to make sure that we keep the ball and then tease them in and try to use the spaces behind them,” Ogum explained.
His approach indicates that Ghana will rely on a patient, ball-retention style to lure their opponents out before hitting quickly into open spaces—a tactic that demands sharp decision-making and tactical maturity from the young players.
Ogum also expressed satisfaction with how the squad has adjusted to the conditions in Ivory Coast.
“They became used to the environment. They became used to the pitch. So when we came it was easy for them to settle in,” he said.
With preparations capped off by video analysis sessions to reinforce tactical concepts, the Starlets’ head coach is confident that the team’s balance of defensive stability and creative attacking play will serve them well as they kick off their campaign on Saturday.
