Former Asante Kotoko and Black Stars’ central defender, Frimpong Manso has commended the national team for inviting three players from the U-20 AFCON winning team for the impending national assignments.

The Black Stars are billed to play South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in the final two matches of the 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

The trio includes Ibrahim Danlad, a goalkeeper of Asante Kotoko who was adjudged the overall best goalkeeper of the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in Mauritania, Philemon Baffuor of Dreams FC who plays at right-back and Fatawu Issahaku, a player of Division One side Steadfast FC, who was also adjudged the overall best player of the tournament.

Manso believes the invitation will be a good experience for the young players and lauded C.K Akunnor and his team for taking a bold decision.

“If you get a call up it doesn't mean you are going to play, it is still part of the learning process. They’ve been drafted into the national team, now they are going to meet with very experienced players and from there they will learn a lot from the training sessions, off the pitch and what goes on at the highest level.

"So inviting them does not mean they are going to play for the Black Stars now. For me, the handlers have done well and it will be a very good experience for the young players,” he said.

The former U-17 national team coach also urged the FA to do more in monitoring the progress and development of the players of the various youth teams in Ghana.

“We have a technical directorate now so it is their responsibility to do the monitoring of our young players. I was at Prampram recently for a course and it was all about grass root development so it looks like now we are serious. If we are able to implement the things that were said there I think we will be on track with our youth football development.”