Ghana has officially kicked off preparations for the CHAN 2024 qualifiers, with head coach Didi Dramani calling up 54 players to form the Black Galaxies squad. The selected players will undergo a series of training camps at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence, starting on September 30.
Coach Dramani has divided the squad into two groups of 27 players each. The first group is set to report from September 30 to October 2, while the second group will begin their camp from October 7 to 9.
The players, drawn from Ghana’s recent U23 and U20 national teams, will be evaluated over the two training phases.
Those who stand out will form the core of the Black Galaxies team, which will compete in the CHAN 2024 qualifiers and other international tournaments.
“This is the beginning of an ongoing work process. The core has been established, but the players are transitioning, we have another one in place and the work is ongoing,” said Dramani, reflecting on the start of the squad’s journey toward CHAN 2024.
The qualifiers are set to take place between October 25 and 27, 2024, with the tournament itself scheduled to be held from February 1 to 28, 2025, across three host nations: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Dramani emphasized the challenge of balancing the preparation schedule with the needs of local clubs, particularly as the domestic leagues are just starting their seasons.
“Our leagues are still in the start-up phase. We will monitor the players and bring them to follow closely and build team cohesion.
Time is very limited and so we have to create a balance so as not to disrupt the progress of the clubs in the early season program in order to keep their players in camp longer,” the coach explained.
To ensure a smooth transition between club and national duties, Dramani is maintaining open communication with club coaches.
“I have made progress by discussing with my fellow coaches and staff why some players are not playing and how some are coming back from injury.
We are trying to create the best possible balance for the players, the clubs and our ongoing process,” he added.
Ghana is aiming to secure one of three available spots for WAFU Zone B in the CHAN 2024 tournament.
The competition has expanded to accommodate 19 teams, including the three host nations, who automatically qualify for the finals.
Ghana, a regular contender in the tournament, will be looking to make an impact as they prepare for their first qualifying match next month.
The Black Galaxies, a team made up of home-based players, will face a challenging road to the tournament, but under the guidance of Dramani and his technical team, the players will be focused on building cohesion and fitness to ensure Ghana’s qualification for the continental championship.
