Ghana's U17 stars swapped the training pitch for a classroom as WAFU B tackled exploitation, money and life choices at the Zone B Championship.
Ghana's Black Starlets have been learning how to protect themselves off the pitch as well as how to win on it. During the ongoing WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, players and officials sat down on Monday for a safeguarding education session.
The session was led by WAFU B Safeguarding Officer Bienvenu Sinko, with support from Adama Guira, the zone's Head of the Technical Study Group. The young Ghanaians were walked through topics central to their growth, welfare and safety, including lifestyle choices, managing money, and how to spot and steer clear of exploitation.
The central message was about responsibility. Teenagers chasing a career in competitive football face real pressure and plenty of temptation, and the session tied good decision-making, on and off the field, directly to the opportunities and demands that come with climbing the ladder.
It forms part of a broader WAFU B push to make players and officials more aware of the risks in the game. The goal is simple: equip everyone with the knowledge to look after themselves, understand their duties and make smart, informed choices across their careers.
For the Black Starlets, it is a valuable bonus on a tournament trip, practical life skills picked up while they continue their campaign in Burkina Faso. In a continent where young talent is often targeted by bad actors, education like this could prove as important as any result.
