Ghana’s biggest success on the international football stage to date has come with the Black Starlets. The U-17 national team have twice conquered the world in 1991 and 1995.

Despite the 22 year wait for another title, the Starlets have always provided hope for Ghanaians about the talent which abounds in the country and the prospects of building a winsome national team.

The national under 17 team are wrapping up preparations ahead of this year’s world under 17 tournament in India. The Black Starlets are among the four African nations to represent the continent at the world stage.

After placing second on the African Continent, Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin and his class of 2017 hope to restore some lost pride to Ghana after a 10 year absence at the World stage.

It was 10 years ago when Sellas Tetteh led a group of relatively unknowns to a fourth placed finish in South Korea. The team played proactive, front foot soccer en route to reaching the last four. Ishamael Yartey, Enoch Adu, Saddick Adams, Daniel Opare and Ransford Osei held their own against now established stars Toni Kroos, Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich) and Kevin Trapp (PSG).

Sellas Tetteh and a large core of the Starlets team went ahead to conquer Africa and the World at the U-20 level in 2009.

Prior to the 2007 exploits in South Korea, David Duncan guided the class of 2005 in Peru with prospects such as Opoku Agyemang, Jonathan Quartey, Sadat Bukari, Mubarak Wakaso, and  David Telfer others contributing their quota. Despite failing to reach far in the tournament, Mubarak Wakaso and Opoku Agyemang have played key roles for the Black Stars at a point.

And now, another era beckons with the likes of Emmanuel Toku, Eric Ayiah, Gabriel Leveh  and Mohammed Idriss aiming to replicate the success of their predecessors. The inclusion of players from WAFA and Right to Dream Academy fafter the tournament at in Gabon has increased the quality in the squad and addressed problems which existed.

The team is preparing for a good tournament in India this October as they will be training in some European countries with the aim of having the players acclimatize with the weather and also test their strength against non-African opponents.

The Starlets have been drawn in a group A with hosts India, USA and Colombia.

After losing out on the previous 5 editions, the time has now presented itself for some redemption for Ghana to once again have a go at the title and considering their performance in Gabon 2017, the team could be set for a good outing in India.