Former FIFA U-17 World Cup winner Awudu Issaka is urging the current Black Starlets team not to despair after suffering a 6-1 mauling at the hands of the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria in their opening match at the Africa U-17 Championship.

Awudu Issaka, 33, became a household name after enchanting fans with his sublime skills which ensured that Ghana won both the Africa and world U-17 championships in 1995.

Nicknamed the “Disco Dancer”, Awudu Issaka believes “there is more to play for. All they (Starlets) have to do is to forget about the past and focus on the present. I know they are sad because they lost by 6-1 but they have to forget about it. They should just train hard and listen to the coach. You know usually U-17 players are very young and inexperienced so they have to learn more and do something for themselves for the future.”

Awudu Issaka played for the youth teams of Asante Kotoko and Belgian club RSC Anderlecht before moving to French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre and former German Bundesliga club TSV 1860 Munich.

He returned to Ghana to play for Liberty Professionals in the 2005–06 season in the then Ghana Telecom Premier League.