Ghana’s quest to clinch the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations trophy faces its critical test when the Black Stars B face the Syli Nationale of Guinea at the Cape Coast Stadium tomorrow in the first group clash.

Ghana benefitted from a late penalty against the Gambia last Saturday to move into the group phase and face very tough challenges as Mali and Nigeria lie in wait for Maxwell Konadu’s charges later in the tournament.

Ghana’s Under-17 male football team coach, Paa Kwasi Fabin, has stated emphatically that his main target is to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup after more than two decades when Ghanaians last laid hands on the trophy.

The Starlets trainer said the team’s long absence from the competition has strengthened the team’s resolve to reclaim the lost glory as Coach Fabin is confident that his youngsters have “prepared very hard in order to make an impact”.

Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari has released a statement denying reports that he was arrested and his car impounded by Italian security officials.

Multiple reports on Wednesday night stated that the former AC Milan and Inter Milan midfielder had been arrested with his vehicle impounded over a debt owed to his former agent.

Accra Hearts of Oak have played down a protest lodged against them by Aduana Stars over the use of an unqualified player in the 26th week league match at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Dormaa-based side has protested against Hearts of Oak for using an unqualified player in the person of Leonard Tawiah in their Ghana Premier League fixture which ended 3-3.

The Garden City of Kumasi will once again become the nation’s athletics capital as 200 young athletes descend on the Baba Yara Stadium for the final of 2017 GNPC Ghana’s Fastest Human competition.

The Ashanti Region remains the heartbeat for track and field events and it comes as little surprise that Saturday’s competition to be run under floodlights will be dominated by runners from the region in first and second-cycle institutions, as well as from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan has vowed not to succumb to pressure to retire from the senior national team.

Gyan in an interview with Kumasi-based Angel FM admitted that the Black Stars is going through difficult times but that will not force him into premature retirement from international football.

The India High Commissioner to Ghana and some prominent Indians representing Indian businesses in Ghana, including the Melcom Group of Companies, last Sunday hosted the Black Starlets and their technical handlers to a farwell dinner in Accra ahead of the team’s departure tomorrow for Abu Dhabi en route to India to participate in the 2017 FIFA Under-!7 which comes off from October 6 to 28.

The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Birender Singh Yadav, on behalf of the Indian community in Ghana, said he was glad to be with the Starlets and officials and wished the team success at the tournament.

Black Stars deputy skipper Andre Ayew came off the bench to assist a goal and score another for West Ham United in their 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town on Monday night.

Ayew said the valuable Premier League victory over Huddersfield proved West Ham remain true to their name.

Frank de Boer has been sacked as Crystal Palace manager after five games and 77 days in charge.

Former England boss Roy Hodgson will replace him, BBC Sport understands.

Black Stars team B player, Amos Frimpong, says despite the absence of any started financial enticement, the exposure and benefits that may accrue from winning the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup was enough motivation to win the competition.

He said for now the players had shut their minds to the issue about bonuses and have rather focusing on making the nation proud by winning the tournament.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, has charged the national U-17 team to fulfil the expectations of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by winning the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy.

According to Mr Asiamah, the President expects the Black Starlets to return home from India with "gold" because the Ministry of Youth and Sports has put everything in place to ensure they succeed.

Ghana laboured for 95 minutes before defeating the Gambia 1-0 last Saturday to qualify for the group phase of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations.

Vincent Atinga’s expertly taken spot kick gave the Black Stars B a slim victory and a possible embarrassment as they faced a gritty Gambian side who were unyielding until Maxwell Konadu’s side were rewarded with a controversial spot kick by Boukari Ouedraogo in added-on time.

The national under 17 football team have settled on the capital city of the United Arab Emirates as the venue for a training camp ahead of their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign which gets underway on October 6 in India.

The Black Starlets were initially bent on travelling to Denmark for preparations ahead of the tourney but strict visa requirements from the Danish Embassy in Accra put paid to that trip and the 24-man squad  will now travel to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday for the training tour.

Jamie Debbah, head coach of the Liberian local team, has appealed to his government to invest in football.

The Liberians exhibited a spirited performance against Senegal but eventually lost through a penalty shootout at the Cape Coast Stadium last Saturday to exit  the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations tournament.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, has revealed that the government has not set aside any money as winning bonuses for the Black Stars B who are currently participating in the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations.

According to the minister, per an agreement reached with the GFA ahead of the start of the competition, the players will only receive bonuses if they are able to clinch the $100,000 prize money at stake for the winners.