GFA names 20 young referees for MTN Elite U-19 Championship

Twenty young match officials have been chosen for the second MTN Elite U-19 Championship, giving Ghana’s emerging referees a chance to officiate at national youth level. The selection forms part of the Ghana Football Association’s Catch Them Young Referees initiative.

The group consists of 10 referees and 10 assistant referees. They will handle matches at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram during the championship, which is scheduled for August 24 to September 4, 2026.

The competition will feature 10 U-19 regional teams and is planned as an 11-day programme. Its format will place the young officials in a structured and competitive setting while they work with some of the country’s leading emerging players.

For the selected referees, the tournament is intended to provide practical experience in high-level youth matches. The opportunity is part of the GFA’s effort to create a clearer route for officials to progress from early development stages into more advanced football.

The championship also serves as a platform for the participating players. They will be able to measure themselves against talent from other regions, strengthen their technical qualities and put themselves in front of national youth-team selectors.

Backed by MTN Ghana, the Elite U-19 Championship is a central part of the GFA’s youth development plans. It operates under the association’s “Power to the Youth” strategy, which aims to build lasting pathways from grassroots and regional football towards the highest levels of the game.