2024 has been a stellar year for young Ghanaian sports talent, with a host of U18 athletes making waves domestically, continentally, and globally.
This article spotlights five of these rising stars who have captured the nation’s attention.
Joanita Borteye (Table Tennis)
Thirteen-year-old Borteye is making waves in African table tennis. The Ghanaian starlet has consistently impressed in 2024, from her quarterfinal run at the African Games to reaching the last eight of the ITTF Africa Cup.
Her standout performances have propelled her to the top of Ghana’s women’s rankings and into the African top 15.
Borteye’s recent success at the 2024 ITTF African Youth Championships, where she made it to the semifinals of the U15 women’s singles and the quarterfinals of the U15 mixed doubles, solidified her status as one of the continent’s brightest talents.
With each tournament, she demonstrates exceptional skill and unwavering determination, positioning herself as a future star of the sport.
Hephzibah Tandoh (Chess)
Fourteen-year-old Hephzibah Tandoh is rapidly becoming a chess sensation in Ghana.
Ranked eighth among the country’s female players with a rating of 1516, she’s also the youngest-ever chess player to qualify for the Ghana national team.
Tandoh’s star has risen dramatically in 2024, with her rating soaring from 1161 to 1516. Key to this success were strong performances at the 2023 National Individual Championships Finals—Women and the 2024 African Youth Chess Championship.
Tandoh represented Ghana at the 2024 West African Chess Championship alongside 2023 national women’s chess champion Gertrude Banini. The 14-year-old starlet would place ninth at the regional competition.
Her most recent tournament was the 2024 African Youth Chess Championship, where she finished 17th out of 42 in the U14 Girls’ section.
With her exceptional talent and rapid progress, Tandoh is a name to watch in the world of chess.
Abdul Aziz Issah (Football)
Abdul Aziz Issah, at 18 years old, is rapidly establishing himself as one of Ghana’s most promising football talents.
The Dreams FC attacker has enjoyed a meteoric rise, capturing attention with a stunning array of achievements.
A gold medal at the 13th African Games, semi-final appearances in both the MTN FA Cup and CAF Confederation Cup, and the coveted top scorer award in the latter competition form a formidable trophy cabinet for someone so young.
Issah’s direct goal contribution of 16 (13 goals and three assists) underlines his attacking prowess.
His exceptional performances have not gone unnoticed. Dreams FC have placed a hefty US$1.5 million price tag on the teenager, a clear indication of their belief in his potential.
His versatility as an attacking midfielder capable of operating on either flank has been instrumental to his team’s success and earned him the prestigious Odartey Lamptey Future Star Award at the 2024 Ghana Football Awards.
Interest in the youngster is understandably high, with clubs from across Europe and Africa monitoring his progress. Rumours linking Issah with Sporting Clube de Portugal, Newcastle United, and Bayer Leverkusen highlight the level of attention he is attracting.
Abubakar Yakubu-Lea (Tennis)
Abubakar Yakubu-Lea, the 18-year-old Ghanaian tennis prodigy, is making waves across the Atlantic.
Ranked 24th in Africa as a junior, the Shawnee State University sophomore has already etched his name into the US college tennis history books.
A historic moment arrived in May when he became the first Shawnee State tennis player ever to be ranked nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association-National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (ITA-NAIA).
Yakubu-Lea initially climbed to a commendable 68th position in the national rankings on 2 May. However, the meteoric rise was temporarily halted as he dropped out of the rankings in the subsequent update on 23 May.
Despite this recent setback, the Ghanaian’s potential remains undeniable. As he continues to hone his skills in the US, we will be watching with keen interest to see if he can fulfil his promise and become Ghana’s next tennis superstar.
Israel Aklie (Table Tennis)
Eleven-year-old Israel Aklie is emerging as a promising talent in Ghanaian table tennis.
Despite facing early challenges in international competitions, including the African Games and the ITTF Africa Cup, Aklie demonstrated exceptional skill and determination at the 2024 ITTF-Africa Continental Hopes Championship, where he secured a gold medal.
This victory earned the Ghanaian a coveted place at the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge.
Aklie further showcased his abilities at the 2024 ITTF African Youth Championships, reaching the quarterfinals in U15 mixed doubles and the Round of 16 in U15 boys singles.
With consistent improvement and experience, he is poised to become a significant figure in the sport.