Team Ghana Heads to Dakar for CAA Region II U18/U20 Championships
Team Ghana sets sights on CAA Region II U18/U20 Championships in Dakar
By Ghana Speaks
July 4, 2026
The young athletes of Team Ghana have set off for Dakar, Senegal, to compete in the 2026 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region II Under-18 and Under-20 Championships, marking a significant step in the nation’s quest to nurture its next generation of track and field stars.
The eight-member squad, which departed Accra on Friday, July 3, comprises a mix of sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers eager to test their mettle against regional rivals. Among them are Aishatu Jaffar and Janet Darkoaa, both specialists in the 100m and 200m sprints; Adelaide Fosuah, another sprinter; Christiana Eghan, who competes in the long jump and triple jump; Blessed Junior Owusu, a 200m and 400m runner; Godfred Opoku, a 400m specialist; Albert Kwaku Gyabaa Komtoh, a triple jumper; and Bossman Kusi Appiah, who will contest the 400m hurdles.
Under the guidance of coach Dramani Abdul Wahab, the team aims to gain invaluable international experience. The championships, which commence on Saturday, July 4, bring together emerging talent from across West Africa, offering a platform for young athletes to showcase their potential on a continental stage.
The CAA Region II Championships serve as a vital qualifying pathway for higher-level competitions, including the African U18 and U20 Championships and eventually the World Athletics U20 Championships. For Ghana, a nation with a proud sprinting tradition — most notably exemplified by Olympic medalists like Leonard Myles-Mills and the recent resurgence of sprinters such as Benjamin Azamati and Joseph Paul Amoah — investing in youth development is seen as essential to sustaining success at the senior level.
Coach Wahab, a former national sprinter turned mentor, emphasized the importance of discipline and goal-setting in preparatory camps held at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium. “We’ve been working on race strategy, recovery, and mental preparation,” he said in a pre-departure interview. “These championships are not just about medals; they’re about learning how to compete under pressure and represent your country with pride.”
Ghana Athletics has expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, urging the athletes to compete with determination and sportsmanship. The federation views the competition as a critical step in the development of Ghana’s future elite athletes, providing exposure to higher levels of competition and the opportunity to learn from peers and coaches across the region.
The federation’s push for youth engagement comes amid growing concerns about the retention of young athletes in sports, particularly in the face of academic and economic pressures. By providing opportunities to compete internationally, Ghana Athletics hopes to demonstrate that a career in athletics is viable and rewarding, thereby encouraging more young people to take up the sport.
Beyond the track, the delegation plans to engage in cultural exchanges with Senegalese athletes and officials, fostering regional camaraderie that extends beyond competition. Such initiatives, officials say, are vital for building a cohesive West African athletic community capable of challenging established powers like Nigeria and South Africa on the continental stage.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
