Ashanti U-17 inter-district football finals set to thrill fans this Easter Sunday
The Ashanti Region is set for a thrilling football spectacle as the U-17 inter-district tournament reaches its climax this Easter Sunday, promising both exhilarating action and the discovery of emerging football talents.
Organised under the auspices of Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the competition provides a platform to nurture grassroots football, allowing young players to showcase their skills on a competitive stage.
Sponsored by telecommunications giant MTN Ghana, the tournament aims to promote youth development through sport, supporting young and talented players while contributing to the growth of football in the region and across the nation. As title sponsors, MTN is providing jerseys for the four semifinal teams, along with trophies and medals for the eventual winners, among other forms of support.
The competition, which began in September 2025, saw districts across the region play inter-community matches to select representative players. By October 2025, 41 out of the 43 districts had formed teams for the group stage, which were drawn into eight zones. The top two teams from each zone advanced to the round of sixteen.
Districts that progressed to the round of sixteen included Afigya Kwabre North, Obuasi Municipal, Asante Akyem Central, Oforikrom, Adansi South, Afigya Kwabre South, Asaokore Mampong, and Asante Akyem South. Others were Kwabre East, Atwima Nwabiagya South, Atwima Kwanwoma, Sekyere Kumawu, Sekyere Afram Plains, Amansie West, Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Sekyere Kumawu.
In February 2026, the tournament entered the knockout stage at Aboabo Akorem in Kumasi. After two days of intense matches showcasing dribbling, scoring, and technical skills, the field was narrowed to eight teams: Afigya Kwabre North, Asante Akyem Central, Afigya Kwabre South, Asaokore Mampong, Kwabre East, Sekyere Afram Plains, Atwima Nwabiagya North, and Sekyere Kumawu.
Quarter-final matches were subsequently moved to Offinso Ahenkro in the Afigya Kwabre North district. Following competitive clashes, four districts advanced to the semifinals.
The semifinals and the grand finale are scheduled for Sunday, 5 April 2026, at the Paa Joe Park, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Afigya Kwabre North will face Afigya Kwabre South in the first semifinal, while Atwima Nwabiagya North take on Kwabre East in the second.
Highlighting the significance of the competition, Dr Amoakohene said the primary goal is to discover and develop football talent across the Ashanti Region, potentially grooming the next generation of national stars. He said, “This is a deliberate move to encourage juvenile football so that we will be able to feed our national teams and the local league with talents mobilised during the competition,” and urged corporate bodies to support and brand the teams while assisting in their management.
