Ghana’s Under-15 Girls National Team kicked off their campaign at the CAF African Schools Football Championship on April 23, 2025, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Morocco. Despite the close scoreline, head coach Joyce Boatey-Agyei is optimistic about the team’s potential to claim the tournament trophy.
“It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to take the trophy,” she asserted after the match. “This is a great achievement for the girls; winning their first national match will motivate them to improve.”
The match, held at the University of Ghana Stadium, is part of a continental tournament featuring top U-15 school footballers from across Africa. With each half lasting only 20 minutes, the format emphasizes fast-paced action and quick decision-making, leaving little room for error.
The team created numerous opportunities but managed to score just one goal, netted by forward Jennifer Awuku. Competing in her first major international tournament, Jennifer expressed her pride in her performance. “My mindset going into the game was to score for my country and make myself proud, and I did just that,” she said. “I feel excited because this is my first time playing for the national team. Ghanaians should expect more goals.”
Coach Boatey-Agyei acknowledged the pressure the players felt from the enthusiastic home crowd. “Given the stadium’s atmosphere and the support, thoughts of disappointing the fans made the girls tense. We had to keep them calm and guide them through it,” she explained.
Tactically, she opted to deploy her strongest attacking players early in the match due to the brief match duration. “With only 20 minutes in each half, it’s best to put your best players upfront. We did that and created many chances, but nerves caused some missed opportunities,” she noted.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship is a significant initiative by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) aimed at promoting grassroots development across the continent. It offers young athletes a platform to showcase their skills while nurturing future national team players.
About The Author
