The popular youth tournament, known for unearthing some of Ghana’s brightest football talents, made its comeback with an exciting final at Paa Joe Park.
Adrobaa Roman Catholic Basic School from the Ahafo Region produced a historic performance, defeating Franko International School 2–0 to win the sixth edition of the competition.
Their victory marked the first time Adrobaa had been crowned champions of the tournament.
The players and technical team walked away with a cash prize of GHS 50,000, along with a beautifully designed trophy presented by Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pele Ayew.
The final attracted former players, scouts, parents, and football lovers who celebrated the return of one of the country's most important grassroots competitions.
Stephen Appiah, who attended the closing ceremony, used the platform to highlight a long-standing concern within Ghana’s football system—poor talent management.
According to him, while Ghana continues to produce brilliant young players, many fail to progress because of inadequate structures, follow-up programmes, and long-term planning.
He noted that tournaments like Milo U13 provide a crucial foundation, but without proper monitoring, mentorship, and opportunities, many youngsters vanish from the football scene after showing early promise.
“At times it saddens my heart that after this tournament, where are they going?” Appiah said.
“We have to do something to keep these boys. In Europe, they have clear pathways that guide the development of young players, but here, many of them drop out because nobody follows up.”
The former Black Stars skipper expressed concern about the next generation of national team players, saying Ghana risks facing a talent gap in the future if proper youth development systems are not strengthened.
“I worry that if the current generation is no longer playing for the national team, who will replace them?” he asked.
“But through Milo and other grassroots programmes, I still believe the future is bright for Ghana football.”
Appiah praised the organizers for reviving the competition and commended the teams for their commitment, discipline, and passion.
He urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA), clubs, academies, and corporate partners to collaborate in building a long-term development pipeline that extends beyond tournaments.
He emphasized the need for:
Structured scouting systems to track and support players beyond age-group competitions.
Youth academies and training centres with qualified coaches.
Educational support to ensure young players balance school and sports.
Long-term monitoring and mentorship, especially for players from rural areas.
Grassroots events like the Milo U13 Championship have historically been instrumental in discovering talents who later excelled at club and national levels.
Many Ghanaian stars began their journeys in similar youth competitions before rising to prominence both locally and internationally.
With the competition now back on the football calendar, expectations are high that it will once again serve as a solid foundation for identifying and nurturing future Black Stars players.
Stakeholders hope that the momentum created by this year’s edition will push football authorities to develop structured programmes that ensure promising young players are not lost along the way.