Ghana's U-19 Team departs for ICC Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in Tanzania

Ghana's under-19 cricket team has departed for Tanzania to participate in the ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier. The tournament, held from July 31 to August 12, 2024, will take place in Dar es Salaam.

The 16-member squad, including Team Manager Seth Nti, Coach Francis Kofi Bakiweyem, and 14 players, left Ghana on Tuesday afternoon, July 30, 2024. Their aim is to qualify for the next stage, Division 1, of the ICC U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup set to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2026.

The team, which has been in non-residential training since May, includes captain Lee Nyarko, Aariz Sood, Prince Ago Adotei, Bernard Addo, David Asewo, Prince Julla, and Elisha Frimpong. Following an intensive week of residential training, the squad also features Emmanuel Appiah, Ashim Popolampo, Danzibel Livingstone Darko, David Ateak, Derrick Ateak, Jeremiah Mensah, and Bernard Kotei Neequaye.

Ghana is placed in Group B alongside hosts Tanzania, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Their campaign kicks off on Friday, August 2, against Mozambique at 9:30am (6:30am Ghana time) at the University of Dar es Salaam ground. They will then face Tanzania on Sunday, August 4, and conclude their group stage against Nigeria on Tuesday, August 6, all at the same venue and time.

Group A includes Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Botswana, and Malawi. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on Friday, August 9, with the third-place play-off and final scheduled for Sunday, August 11, 2024.

The last time Ghana advanced from this stage was in 2016, when they won the ultimate trophy after defeating Nigeria in the finals in Benoni, South Africa. The Ghana Cricket Association is hopeful that the current team will replicate the success of the 2016 squad and secure a place in Division 1.