Ghana’s Black Starlets secured a triumphant victory over Benin in their final group match of the WAFU Zone B Under-17 Championship, ongoing at the University of Ghana Stadium.

The Black Starlets are aiming to qualify for next year’s AFCON, having missed the last two editions.

Laryea Kingston’s team will now face either Burkina Faso or Nigeria in the semi-finals of the competition, aiming to reach the finals after falling short in the last edition where they lost to Burkina Faso.

Laryea Kingston, Black Starlets, HEAD COACH

In an exclusive interview with CitiSports, Frederick Acheampong expressed his admiration for the former Black Stars player, praising Kingston for making significant strides in his coaching career.

Frederick Acheampong, Management Committee Chairman, Black Starlets [Ghana Under-17]

I am happy with the way he [Laryea Kingston] has grabbed the opportunity.

It’s a new side and he has played for the youth teams in Ghana before so he’s been there before and I’m sure he’s explained everything to guide the young guys and he’s doing very very well with the team.

Since he picked out the team, the progress has been upwards and we’re very much happy with the job he’s doing and I will urge him to continue to do that and that will pave way for more of his playing mates and former players if they would take up the badges, take up the courses and they are available.

I’m sure the FA will be considering a lot more going forward and Laryea is a typical example from what he’s doing with this young boys.

He’s doing a wonderful job.

In 2017, the Black Starlets ended as runners-up in the African Cup of Nations, falling to Mali in the finals of the competition held in Gabon.

Since then, Ghana has faced difficulties in qualifying for the biennial tournament, missing out on the 2019 edition in Tanzania and the 2023 edition in Algeria.