Ghana’s U-18 Girls Hockey Team has departed Accra for Nairobi, Kenya, ahead of the maiden edition of the Africa Youth Hockey5 Championship scheduled for August 6–8, 2026.
The continental championship will serve as the qualification tournament for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5 World Cup, which will be held later this year in December.
Led by Head Coach Isaac Moses, the Ghanaian contingent travelled with nine players (Eva Amoako, Zenabu Hamidu, Esther Annia, Zaliatu Okine, Elizabeth Mensah, Mabel Djuodu, Charlotte Sango, Rakia Elliasu, Faith Sackey) a coach, Team Manager Gertrude Inkoom, an executive member and an umpire as they seek to make history in the new five-a-side format of the game.
Ghana has been drawn alongside Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa and hosts Kenya. The team will begin its campaign against Uganda before taking on Nigeria, and will conclude the group stage against South Africa. A victory and a draw could be enough to secure qualification to the next stage.
Speaking before the team’s departure, Team Manager Gertrude Inkoom expressed confidence in the squad despite the limited preparation period. “It wasn’t easy bringing players together from different schools, but we made the best use of the short training period we had. We are not travelling to Kenya just to participate, we are going there to make an impact. We believe in the abilities of these girls and we are confident they can compete for qualification.”
She also described the championship as an important stepping stone for the young players. “These are talented young girls, most of whom are in senior high school or just entering. They represent the future of Ghana hockey, and this tournament gives them a great platform to develop, gain international experience and prepare for the senior national team.”
The tournament marks a significant milestone for African youth hockey as teams battle for places at the first-ever FIH Youth Hockey5 World Cup.
By: Victoria Kwofie
