Head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, Frimpong Manso, has highlighted a growing trend in youth football development across the country, pointing to a noticeable rise in young players aspiring to become wingers, largely influenced by global football icons like Lionel Messi.
Speaking in an interview on Kessben TV, the experienced coach explained how recent scouting efforts have shown a clear shift in player profiles coming through the system.
“Most of the players we are getting through scouting are wingers. In the past, we used to see more midfielders coming through, but now the trend has changed,” Manso stated.
He attributed this change partly to the global appeal and influence of modern attacking stars.
“The influence of Messi and others has made playing on the wings more attractive to young talents,” he added.
While the emergence of exciting attacking prospects is a positive sign, Manso cautioned against neglecting the other key positions necessary for building a balanced and competitive team.
“We must make sure that in our quest to nurture these wingers, we don’t neglect the need to develop quality midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers,” he warned.
As the Black Starlets gear up for upcoming competitions, Manso remains confident in the talent pool but called for sustained investment in grassroots development and technical training to maintain Ghana’s long-standing reputation for producing well-rounded footballers.
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