The Ghana U-17 national team, affectionately known as the Black Starlets, continued their intensive build-up to the upcoming U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a closely contested friendly encounter against Ghana Premier League outfit Heart of Lions at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday morning.
The young national side ultimately fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat in what proved to be a competitive and revealing test against more seasoned domestic league opponents.
Heart of Lions drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Michael Ephson found the net with a well-taken goal, giving the GPL side a 1-0 lead that they carried into halftime. The Black Starlets responded positively after the break, equalizing just three minutes into the second half through Abdul Latif Wunzalgu’s strike in the 48th minute, which injected fresh momentum into their performance and leveled the score at 1-1.
However, the visitors from the Premier League regained the advantage in the 70th minute courtesy of Chauncy Freeman’s decisive goal, restoring their lead at 2-1. Despite pushing hard for a late equalizer, the Black Starlets were awarded a penalty opportunity in the closing stages of the match. Captain Joseph Narbi stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort sailed off target, denying the youthful side a chance to salvage a draw.
Throughout the game, the Black Starlets demonstrated promising flashes of attacking flair and youthful energy, characteristic of the squad as they fine-tune their preparations under the coaching staff.
The encounter served as a valuable learning experience, highlighting areas for improvement in defensive solidity and clinical finishing while also showcasing the players’ resilience in coming back from behind. For Heart of Lions, the victory provided a morale-boosting result and an opportunity to sharpen their competitive edge against an emerging national team.
This friendly forms part of a series of preparatory matches for the Black Starlets as they intensify their campaign ahead of the continental tournament, allowing the technical team to evaluate squad depth, tactical setups, and individual performances in a high-pressure environment.
