WAFU Zone B Championship: Our priority is to qualify for U-17 AFCON - Laryea Kingston
Laryea Kingston, the coach of the Black Starlets, has highlighted the team's main goal of qualifying for the TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kingston, who took over from Karim Zito last year, is preparing for his first major competition as head coach after leading the team through three invitational tournaments in Serbia, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
Speaking to ghanafa.org, Kingston emphasized the importance of the upcoming WAFU tournament.
"The WAFU tournament is crucial for us and the entire nation because since 2017, we haven't qualified for that major tournament. As a technical team, that's our top priority since our appointment," Kingston stated to ghanafa.org.
Recently, the Black Starlets participated in a four-nation tournament in Volgograd, where they lost to host Russia but secured victories against Serbia and Kazakhstan.
"We were meticulous in player selection due to the 'Agoro style' philosophy implemented by the GFA, which motivates us as a technical team," Kingston explained. "We aim to dominate play and have smooth transitions while adhering to the GFA DNA."
Reflecting on their experience in the UEFA U-16 Invitational tournament in Russia, Kingston shared, "The journey has been challenging, but the experience has been worthwhile, especially for the boys. Our takeaway has been positive."
Despite a loss to Russia, Kingston praised his team's response in their subsequent match against Serbia. "Encountering different styles of play, especially from Eastern European teams, has been a valuable experience for me as a coach," he added.
The team scored 11 goals and conceded 5 during the Invitational tournament.
The Black Starlets will begin their WAFU Zone B campaign against Cote D’Ivoire at the University of Ghana Stadium on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
They are paired with Cote D’Ivoire and Benin in Group A, with the tournament scheduled for Accra from May 15-28, 2024.
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