Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe, head of Public Relations & Strategy at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), has acknowledged that Laryea Kingston’s unexpected resignation as head coach of the Black Starlets has significantly impacted the team’s stability.
Kingston, a former Ghana international, stepped down following a 2-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the WAFU B U17 Championship.
This resignation came on the heels of impressive performances where the team convincingly beat Ivory Coast 5-1 and Benin 2-0 to reach the semi-finals.
“It’s a decision that I believe the Executive will be looking at closely. Laryea’s project ran for about seven months, and we were all privy to the levels to which the team rose,” Armstrong-Mortagbe stated. “That sort of created a bit of instability around the team.”
Despite the turmoil, Armstrong-Mortagbe remains optimistic about the future of the U17 team. “For those who will still be young enough to play, they will represent the team, but the rest will be transitioned to the U-18 and U-19 teams recently created so the talents don’t get lost,” he explained.
Ghana finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Nigeria in the third-place game, a performance that highlights the potential within the squad despite the recent challenges.
As the GFA navigates this period of instability, the focus remains on ensuring a smooth transition for the players and maintaining the development momentum built under Kingston’s tenure.
