Ghana’s Under-17 team failed to participate at this year’s Trofeo Rocco Nero youth tournament after being refused entry visas by the Italian Embassy in Accra.

A source told Ghanasoccernet, the Ghana Football Association failed to meet the application deadline and have ruled out the trip with the tournament beginning on Sunday.

The Black Starlets trip was partly affected the air restrictions in Europe due to the ash clouds. Ghana were invited for the prestigious tournament after winning the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Egypt last year.

The Starlets are expecting to use the tournament to sharpen their arsenals ahead of the African Under-17 Championship qualifiers which begins in August.