In anticipation of his team’s WAFU Zone B U17 Championship opener against Ivory Coast, Black Starlets head coach Laryea Kingston is extremely confident.

The former Black Stars midfielder is confident that his team is prepared to compete against their Ivorian rivals in the championship.

Laryea is confident his boys will perform well on Wednesday because he thinks the team has prepared extremely well for the competition.

Speaking prior to kickoff, Laryea praised the Ghana Football Association for helping his team get ready for the competition.

“We are ready,” he said.

“Preparations have been very good and from our last training, the boys are looking very good for the game,” he added.

But given that Ghana hasn’t been able to qualify for the U20 AFCON since 2017, the gaffer acknowledged that he and his players are under pressure to perform.

“Yes, we’re under pressure to perform because in the last two editions, we have not been able to qualify. I know Ghanaians expect us to qualify and that puts some pressure on us.”

“There is pressure on us but where we’ve taken the boys to and the preparations we have had, thanks to the FA, we’re ready,” Coach Laryea Kingston concluded.

Ghana will compete in Group A with Ivory Coast and Benin.