U17 AFCON: Prosper Ogum urges defensive discipline after Black Starlets surrender lead against Algeria

Black Starlets head coach Prosper Ogum has called for improved defensive concentration after Ghana let a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Algeria in their opening Group D fixture at the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.

Ghana made a flying start with early goals from Yao Gavi Robinho and Eric Adu Gyamfi, but were undone after the interval as Algeria fought back strongly.

Ogum explained that his side’s decline in intensity during the second half proved costly, as they allowed Algeria time and space to grow into the match.

“I think if you look at what the Senegalese played against South Africa, they are very technical, they are very physical.

"What we realised was that if we give them time and space on the ball, if we do a lot of space marking and zonal marking, they will punish us.

"We need to go up and close on them, tight marking, make sure that they don’t really have the ball facing us with space in front of them because all the midfielders, they are frontliners.

"All of them are technically good. They can do a lot of drops, they can do a lot of underlaps, they can break the lines."

The Black Starlets will continue preparations ahead of their crucial Group D clash with Senegal, where improved concentration will be essential.

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