By Zobia Zulfqar 
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to continue its nationwide talent identification programme for the Black Starlets with a two-day scouting exercise scheduled to take place in the Northern Region on June 22 and 23, 2026.
The exercise will be held at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale and forms part of ongoing efforts to identify and develop young football talents for Ghana’s next Under-17 national team. The initiative is being led by Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle and his technical team, who are travelling across the country in search of promising players capable of representing Ghana on the international stage.
The scouting programme is aimed at discovering talented young footballers born in 2010 and 2011, who fall within the age bracket being considered for the next Black Starlets cycle. The exercise is expected to attract hundreds of young players from various communities across the Northern Region, all hoping to impress the national team selectors.
Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. on both days, with players participating in a series of competitive matches and assessment sessions. During the programme, the technical team will evaluate participants based on several key criteria, including technical skills, tactical awareness, physical fitness, discipline, and overall football potential.
According to the GFA, the talent identification programme is designed to ensure that gifted young footballers from every part of the country are given an equal opportunity to showcase their abilities and earn a place in the national team setup. The association believes that expanding its scouting network beyond the major football centres will help uncover hidden talents and strengthen Ghana’s youth football development system.
Players who stand out during the Tamale exercise will be shortlisted and invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram. There, they will undergo further technical assessments and training sessions before final selections are made for future national team assignments.
The Northern Region scouting exercise follows similar successful programmes recently held in the Upper West and Upper East regions. Those events attracted significant participation and helped identify several promising young players who are now being monitored by the national team coaches.
Coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle has repeatedly emphasized the importance of building a strong foundation for Ghana’s youth football development. He believes the country possesses enormous talent and that structured scouting programmes are essential to identifying and nurturing the next generation of football stars.
The nationwide scouting initiative comes at a crucial time as Ghana prepares for future youth competitions, including the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship. The tournament is expected to serve as an important qualification pathway for continental and global competitions, making talent identification a key priority for the technical team.
Football stakeholders have welcomed the programme, describing it as an important step toward restoring Ghana’s dominance in youth football. The Black Starlets have a proud history, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup twice and produced several players who later represented the Black Stars at senior level.
The GFA remains committed to investing in grassroots football and creating opportunities for talented youngsters regardless of their geographical location. By extending scouting activities to all regions of the country, the association hopes to build a stronger and more competitive national team capable of achieving success on the African and global stage.
Young footballers across the Northern Region have therefore been encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity and showcase their talents as Ghana continues its search for the stars of tomorrow.