Ghana hopes to make comeback

Two-time champions Ghana is seeking to revive its fortunes in the tournament, having last won it in 1995, when it stunned a Brazilian outfit that had the likes of Julio Cesar in its ranks. 

Four years before that, the Ghanians shattered Spain’s dream in the summit showdown in 1991 for the African nation’s maiden triumph in the youth tournament. 

Though Ghana could not quite conjure up the same magic, which saw it lift two titles, in the following years, it still managed to reach the final on two occasions. 

This time around, it is entering the tournament on the back of some very impressive performances in the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.

Ghana’s opponents, Colombia, is normally among the top four South American footballing nations alongside Brazil and Argentina, but it has not made it to the tournament since the 2009 edition when it finished third. 

Colombia has so far competed in five editions of the tournament, finishing third on two occasions. It hustled and bustled its way to India with a last-ditch victory over continental rival Paraguay. 

Ghana’s head coach Paa Kwesi Fabin said his players are eager to rekindle the glory days of the past.“In India, we’ll be out to show we’re the best. Our aim is to get to the final and win it,” Fabin said. 

The 1990s marked a golden era for Ghana’s U-17 national team. The Black Starlets was the undoubted dominant force, reaching the final at four of the decade’s five FIFA U-17 World Cups, including lifting the trophy in 1991 (Italy) and 1995 (Ecuador). It also finished on the podium in 1999 (New Zealand). Besides a brief revival in 2007, when it reached the semifinals, Ghana has consistently failed to hit the heights at this level.