Black Meteors assistant coach Yaw Preko has advised Ghana’s young footballers to avoid allowing social media to derail their careers, stressing that discipline and focus are just as important as talent in achieving success.
The former Ghana international believes the country possesses an abundance of gifted young players but insists that technical ability alone is not enough to excel at the highest level.
According to Preko, players must combine talent with discipline, strong character and unwavering commitment if they are to progress through the national team ranks and eventually establish themselves in the Black Stars.
Speaking to the Ghana Football Association’s media team ahead of Ghana’s 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya, the former Black Stars midfielder admitted that squad selection will always divide opinion but defended the decisions made by the technical team.
“In Ghana, regardless of the decisions you make regarding squad selection, some people will be happy while others will be disappointed. We have a pool of talented players, but talent alone is not enough to win games. You also need character, focus and a bit of luck.”
Preko also expressed concern over the growing influence of social media, warning that it has become a major distraction for some promising young footballers.
“Unfortunately, social media has become a major distraction for some young players. You see players with enormous talent, but their attention is sometimes taken away from their football by activities on social media.”
The former Asante Kotoko coach further encouraged players who were not selected for the current squad to remain patient and continue performing consistently at club level, insisting there will be more opportunities in the future.
He described the qualification campaign as a marathon rather than a sprint, reminding players that the journey to the Olympic Games remains a long one.
“This is a long journey. The Olympic Games are still two years away, and even after this qualifying round, we will have another hurdle to overcome before reaching the AFCON.”
Preko believes every eligible player still has an opportunity to contribute as Ghana pursue qualification for the 2027 CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations and ultimately a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The Black Meteors begin their qualifying campaign against Libya in Benghazi on Wednesday, November 11, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 GMT, before hosting the return leg in Accra as they bid to move one step closer to the continental championship in Egypt.
