Former Black Stars assistant Didi Dramani says Ghana's youth football revival needs real structures, steady investment and a long-term plan.
Ghana's youth football pipeline is under the microscope again, and Didi Dramani has a clear message: stop hoping for results and start building for them. The former Black Stars assistant coach wants a deliberate, consistent and sustainable approach to developing the country's young talent.
The call comes after another setback for the Black Starlets, who missed out on the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after losing to Côte d'Ivoire in the WAFU Zone B semi-finals. It is the latest in a run of disappointments for Ghana's youth sides at major tournaments, and it has reignited debate about what is going wrong at the grassroots.
Dramani speaks with credit to his name. He guided Ghana's U-20 women to bronze at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, and he argues the formula starts with three pillars: talent identification, recruitment and the ability to nurture players once they are in the system. In his view, a concept only works if those in charge stay disciplined, keep at it year after year and make it last.
The veteran tactician also stressed that success will not arrive through talk alone. Better coaching and properly structured pathways through schools and clubs, he says, are the foundations Ghana must lay before expecting improved results. Without them, the cycle of near-misses at youth level is likely to continue.
For a nation with Ghana's football pedigree, the challenge is plain: turn raw talent into a production line that feeds the Black Stars for years to come. Dramani's blueprint is simple, but it demands patience and commitment from everyone in the game.
