Central Region secured a deserved third-place finish at the 2026 MTN Elite U-19 Championship after producing a commanding 3-0 victory over Brong Ahafo in the third-place playoff at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

The victory was inspired by the outstanding Desmond Korlettey, who once again delivered a match-winning performance for Central Region. The talented forward scored twice and was named Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in the competition, underlining his remarkable impact throughout the championship.

Korlettey wasted little time in announcing his presence, opening the scoring in the ninth minute to give Central Region an early advantage. He struck again just seven minutes later, finding the back of the net in the 16th minute to put his side firmly in control of the contest.

With a comfortable two-goal lead, Central Region continued to manage the game effectively as Brong Ahafo searched for a way back into the match.

However, any hopes of a comeback were finally extinguished in the 80th minute when Orlando Baffoe added the third goal to complete an impressive performance and seal a memorable podium finish for Central Region.

Attention will now turn to the highly anticipated grand finale on Friday, when defending champions Eastern Region take on Ashanti Region in what promises to be a blockbuster encounter with the coveted trophy at stake.

Eastern Region will be determined to successfully defend their title, while Ashanti Region will be aiming to deny the champions and end the competition as winners of the second edition of the championship.

The final will bring the curtain down on another exciting edition of the MTN Elite U-19 Championship, which continues to provide an important platform for identifying, developing and showcasing some of Ghana's brightest young football talents.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS