Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey has urged his players to improve their concentration and attacking efficiency despite Ghana’s 3-1 victory over Benin at the ongoing WAFU B U-17 Championship.
Ghana recorded their second win of the tournament with an impressive attacking display, scoring three goals to strengthen their push for a place in the next stage of the competition.
However, Ocansey believes the team must address lapses in concentration after his players allowed Benin back into the contest following a two-goal advantage.
The coach said Ghana’s loss of focus after taking a 2-0 lead gave their opponents an opportunity to score and put pressure on the team before the Starlets regained control in the second half.
“It means we have done a great job and we are satisfied. We lost concentration after we took the 2-0 lead and allowed Benin to come into the game and they got their goal. But it was good we came back stronger in the second half to finish the game with the third goal,” he said.
Despite the setback, Ocansey was pleased with his side’s response after the break, particularly their ability to restore their advantage and secure all three points.
He also highlighted the impact of work done on goalscoring during training, noting that the team’s three-goal return against Benin reflected progress in converting chances.
According to the coach, Ghana created enough opportunities to score more goals but remained satisfied with the outcome.
“We could have scored more than three but Alhamdulillah we are okay. We worked on goalscoring at training and we have scored three today so we are okay. If your team creates chances and they end up scoring three, it’s okay but there is more room for improvement,” he added.
The victory gives the Starlets further momentum in the tournament, but Ocansey’s comments suggest the technical team remains focused on tightening the side’s defensive concentration and improving its effectiveness in front of goal as the competition progresses.
