Black Starlets head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has acknowledged that narrowing down his final squad has become a formidable task, as a surge in youth talent creates a selection headache ahead of their next CAF assignment.

The national U-17 side is currently engaged in a series of high-intensity friendly matches. These fixtures serve as a rigorous testing ground for the technical team to evaluate a burgeoning pool of young prospects vying for a spot on the continental stage.

In a candid assessment of his current options, Coach Ogum revealed that the standard of players identified in recent weeks has, in some instances, eclipsed those who featured in the previous WAFU Zone B tournament. 

Speaking to Peace FM, Ogum noted the difficulty in choosing between equally gifted youngsters. 

"It's been very challenging," he admitted. "If you look at the quality we have identified, it is very challenging; some are higher than some of the players we took to the WAFU [championship]."

While the pressure to cut talented players is immense, the former Asante Kotoko boss views the situation as a testament to the strength of Ghanaian youth football. Rather than a burden, he describes the intense competition for every jersey as a "good problem" to have.

"As coaches, that is one of our responsibilities," Ogum explained. "When you have a problem like that, you call it a good problem. It means you have equally competent or more competent players in each position, so we are doing our best."

The Black Starlets are entering a critical phase of their preparations. With the technical team focusing on tactical cohesion and individual discipline, the upcoming friendlies in Accra will serve as the final hurdle for many of these hopefuls. 

The goal remains clear: to return the Starlets to their former glory as a dominant force in African youth football.