As the cream of the continent's young talents converge in Togo for the African U-17 Championship, Ghana would be led to the championship this time by the man who crafted Gambia’s success at the last edition of the tournament.

Fred Osam Duodu would be making a second successive appearance at the African U-17 Championship, this time with Ghana following his appointment as coach of the junior national team, the Black Starlets.

The Former FA technical director takes over from Bashiru Hayford who is serving an eight-game CAF ban that effectively rules him out of the competition to be hosted by Togo in March 2007.

Osam Duodu, one of the nation’s experienced technical hands arrived at the national camp on Monday to begin work with the rest of the backroom staff headed by Emmanuel Quarshie and some 38 players.

Next year’s competition would be the second for Osam Duodu after he guided the Gambia to win the trophy at the expense of Ghana when they hosted the event in 2005.

Though it took a bizarre incident and a decision to separate the sides after a Gambian struck the ball into the net at the same time as a supporter threw himself in front of goal that obstructed the Ghana goalkeeper.

But the referee allowed the goal to stand and the hosts were crowned champions.

He earned himself immense recognition in Gambia for leading the youngsters to their historic title - the country's very first continental honour, and a qualification to the FIFA World U-17 Championship hosted by Peru.

And in Fred Osam Duodu, Ghana has one of the most skilled tacticians sharing his expertise in the youth game today.

With developing young talent and training of coaches for the future among his greatest passions, Ghana would be seeking to win the continental trophy at this level for the third time in seven appearances.

The Black Starlets would strive to put behind them the setback that befell their predecessors.