Sports
Free Licence ‘D’ Coaching Course for Northern Region
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) will roll out the free Licence ‘D’ Coaching Course for Colts and Women Division One League coaches in the Northern Region.
The eight-day coaching course will be held at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale from August 13-20, 2024, just a day after the conclusion of a similar exercise in the Ashanti Region which ends on Monday August 12.
This coaching licence course is in line with the GFA’s vision of offering practical training and impacting knowledge to Coaches at the Colts and Women Division One League level in the country.
This is in fulfilment of the pledge by Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Edwin Simeon-Okraku, with 30 participants from the Northern Region, latest to benefit from the Coaching programme.
The 30 prospective coaches, who are already working with Colts and Women Division One League clubs but do not have coaching certificates, have been selected by their respective clubs to undergo the training.
Per the new CAF Coaching Convention, the course is expected to have both theory and practical sessions for seven (7) days of required contact hours, after which participants would be assessed practically and examined theoretically.
The free training will ensure that, ultimately, each Colts club in the country will have at least one certified coach to help in the development process.
This will help to bridge the gap created after the FA announced that all Colts Club Coaches must be, at least, License D holders.
GFA Technical Director Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah and GFA Director of Coaching Education, Desmond Sakyi Ofei together with CAF Coaching Instructors, will oversee the eight-day exercise in Tamale with administrative support from Andrews Kwesi Eshun.
The Black Queens will on Wednesday, April 29, learn their opponents for the African qualifying phase of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament.
The draw, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo and will be streamed live on CAF TV from 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Ghana is among 35 national teams participating in the qualification campaign, which will determine the two African representatives for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, scheduled for July 11 to 29, 2028.
The qualification series will be played over five rounds, with each nation aiming to secure one of the two available slots for Africa at the global event in Los Angeles.
Having recently climbed to 59th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings and currently ranked third in Africa, the draw marks the beginning of another major international mission, the quest to seek a return to Olympic football.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially awarded the nation the rights to host the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
CAF covered the decision in a letter addressed to the General Secretary, Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq.
The decision underscores CAF’s strong confidence in the Ghana Football Association’s ability to organize and deliver a tournament that meets the highest standards of youth football on the continent.
Ghana last hosted the competition in 1999 – when the Black Satellites lifted the trophy on home soil amid scenes of national celebration.
Coincidentally, 2027 will mark the 70th Independence anniversary and the competition could be a great part of the celebrations.
CAF says it will work closely with the Football Association and a soon-to-be-established Local Organising Committee (LOC) to ensure the successful planning and execution of the tournament.
This collaboration is expected to focus on infrastructure readiness, logistics, security, and overall fan experience, all aimed at delivering a world-class event worthy of Africa’s growing football stature.
Beyond the excitement of hosting, the tournament represents a broader endorsement of Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s premier football hubs.
Over the years, the country has consistently demonstrated its capability to stage high-profile competitions, backed by passionate supporters, improving facilities and a rich football culture.
The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations holds particular importance in the global football ecosystem. Widely regarded as a breeding ground for future stars, the competition has historically served as a launching pad for some of Africa’s most celebrated players. Many participants have gone on to achieve remarkable success at top European clubs and on the international stage, making the tournament a key showcase of emerging talent.
With history, passion and proven capability on its side, Ghana now stands poised to deliver a memorable and impactful U-20 AFCON tournament, one that could shape the future of African football once again.
