The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has officially launched the maiden edition of the MTN Elite U19 Championship, a groundbreaking youth football initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Ghanaian football stars.
The launch ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the GFA headquarters in Accra, drawing top football dignitaries, regional representatives, and technical heads.
The event was graced by GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, Chairman of the Elite U19 Championship Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, members of the GFA Executive Council, all 10 Regional FA chairmen, and key technical figures, including Black Stars Technical Advisor Winfried Schafer, Assistant Coach Desmond Ofei, Black Satellites Coach Maxwell Konadu, and GFA Technical Director Prof. Joseph Kwame Mintah.
In his address, President Simeon-Okraku hailed the initiative as a major milestone in Ghana’s football development, emphasizing its role in talent discovery and youth empowerment.
“This competition has come in handy in providing opportunities for young and talented second-division players. When we say ‘Power to the Youth’, this is exactly what it means – creating enabling and thriving platforms for talent identification and nurturing the next generation of football stars,” said President Okraku.
The MTN Elite U19 Championship will run from October 23 to November 2, 2025, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.
It will feature ten Regional Football Association (RFA) U19 teams, showcasing some of the brightest young talents across the country.
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, Chairman of the Championship, praised the GFA’s leadership and MTN Ghana for championing youth football, linking the initiative to Ghana’s recent World Cup success.
“Let me begin by extending heartfelt congratulations to our beloved Black Stars for securing qualification to the 2026 World Cup. This achievement reinforces our belief that when systems work and talents are nurtured, Ghana can compete at the highest level,” he said.
“This initiative is not just about football; it is about discipline, teamwork, and the future of Ghanaian youth. On behalf of the organizing committee, I commend MTN Ghana for its unwavering commitment to sports development.”
Sponsored by MTN Ghana, the Elite U19 Championship forms part of the GFA’s broader Power to the Youth agenda, a strategic move to build a sustainable pathway from grassroots to professional football.
The competition is expected to serve as a key scouting platform for national youth coaches and professional clubs, cementing Ghana’s status as a hub of footballing talent in Africa.
