Ghana v Uganda World Cup playoff will be 'emotional' - Black Starlets media officer

Black Starlets media officer Sheikh Tophic has described Ghana’s upcoming playoff clash against Uganda as an emotionally charged encounter as the two sides battle for a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Ghana booked their place in the playoff after securing a 3-1 victory over South Africa in their final Group D match at the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite failing to progress to the knockout stage.

While elimination from the tournament was a setback for the Black Starlets, the team has swiftly turned its attention to the playoff, with qualification for the global showpiece now firmly in sight.

The fixture carries added significance due to Uganda coach Laryea Kingston’s past connection with Ghana’s youth setup, a factor Sheikh Tophic admits adds emotion and intrigue to the contest.

Speaking ahead of the decisive encounter, Tophic acknowledged the sensitive nature of the matchup but expressed confidence in the ability of Ghana’s young talents to rise to the occasion.

“To be very sincere with you, this is a fixture [Ghana vs Uganda] that I wish had never happened. I feel that it's going to be a crack of a game. It's a game that will leave you with a lot of memories. It's going to be uninteresting," he said.

Tophic noted that several players currently in the Black Starlets squad previously worked under Kingston and would be eager to showcase their growth under current coach Proper Narteh Ogum.

"We have a couple of players who played under Laryea [Kingston] who are still with the team currently. They also have to prove a point.

"They have to show what they learned from that time and combine it with what they have been currently taught under Ogum.

"I believe when the time comes to show working, they will be able to stand tall for Ghana," he added.

The highly anticipated playoff clash is scheduled to kick off at 19:00 GMT, with a place at the FIFA U-17 World Cup at stake.

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