Ghana's U-15 captain Abdul Aziz Issa says seventh among 189 nations is a foundation to build on, not a place to settle.
Ghana's next generation just put West African youth football on the world map. The Black Starlets finished seventh out of 189 countries at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan, and captain Abdul Aziz Issa says the team is only getting started.
Ghana won eight of their 10 matches in Azerbaijan. They opened with five wins from five in Group W to top the pool, then closed the tournament with a 4-0 win over Colombia. The campaign also included a heavy 7-1 loss to Brazil in the Tier A Ranking Play-Offs, a tough lesson against one of football's great talent factories.
Issa admitted the squad arrived with big ambitions and wanted to take home the trophy. They fell short of that goal, but he believes the group performed extremely well and has plenty to be proud of.
The captain made clear there will be no resting on this result. He said the players will keep learning from their coaches and keep developing, and that this group, with a few quality additions, can make an impact in future competitions. For Ghana, a country with a rich record of producing young talent, a top-eight finish on this stage is a strong sign of what is coming through the pipeline.
