Black Galaxies coach Didi Dramani explains the decision to invite 54 players for screening ahead of the 2025 CHAN qualifiers

Coach Didi Dramani, head coach of the Black Galaxies, has called up a diverse group of approximately 54 players for screening at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence ahead of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

The qualifiers are set to begin between October 25-27, 2024, as the team gears up for the tournament, which will take place from February 1-28, 2025, in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

“It’s the beginning of a work-in-progress process. The Nucleus was established but the players transition, we put in place another and the work is ongoing,” Did Dramani told Ghanaasportspage.com in an exclusive interview.

“Our leagues are in the infant stage. We will monitor players and further bring them for close observation and coherence in team building. The time is very limited and so we need to create a balance not to disrupt clubs’ progress in the early season program to keep their players for longer camping”

“I have made progress in speaking with colleagues coaches across the board with my staff to find out why some players are not playing and the progress of some returning from injuries. We try to create the best balance for players, clubs and our on going process”. He concluded.

The selected players will undergo rigorous assessments at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram to vie for a spot in the final squad.

The first group of players is scheduled to report from September 30 to October 2 while the second group will participate in the screening from October 7 to 9.

Players who impress during this exercise will form the core of the Black Galaxies squad for the CHAN qualifiers and other international competitions.

The 2025 CHAN tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, will feature 19 teams, with Ghana competing for one of the three qualification slots allocated to WAFU B.

The increase in the number of qualifying teams has been made to accommodate the three host nations, who automatically qualify for the final tournament.