Accra, July 30, GNA - Ghana will host the second edition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Academicals Championship in September.

The week-long championship expected to host all 16 countries has tentatively been fixed for Sunday, September 23. Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Chief Director at the Ministry of Education Science and Sports (MoESS) told GNA Sports that all the major countries in the sub region have confirmed participation. Ghana will use El-Wak, Len Clay, Legon and the refurbishing Tema Stadium for the competition, which has Ghana's Black Princesses as defending champions in the female category. The country will make a representation in both the male and female categories.

He said it is the policy of the Ministry that players for the national academicals are selected from well-established soccer academies like Feyenoord, Right to Dream and the Winneba Sports Collage. "We believe that the future of Ghana as a strong soccer nation lies in the scientific selection and training of academically sound soccer talent".

The selection will focus on U-19 talented players in schools with the aim of promoting sports with education. The first edition of the competition was held in Nigeria in 2005. 30 July 07