Ghana's burgeoning football academy, Samba Stars, will have its first taste of Europe when the team visits England for a tour in 2026. The Kumasi-b
Ghana’s burgeoning football academy, Samba Stars, will have its first taste of Europe when the team visits England for a tour in 2026.
The Kumasi-based academy, known for high standards in nurturing youngsters, will travel to the United Kingdom to face some of the distinguished academies as part of plans to give the youngsters once-in-a-lifetime exposure.
Led by the accomplished gaffer, Freddie, from the dugout, Samba Stars’ stock keeps rising after already transferring two talented players, Jalil Alhassan and Hinneh Listowel, to the French Ligue One side, Strasbourg and English Championship side, Middlesbrough in 2026.
Alongside Freddie, former Nottingham Forest and West Ham forward Michail Antonio, who is a shareholder in the academy, will lead the team’s operations in England.
Having already earned recognition across the football world for their top-notch quality and discipline, Samba Stars’ third consecutive triumph in the U19 Samba Confederation Cup awed scouts from Europe.
European clubs have 100 per cent confidence in the Ghanaian-based academy, with scouts from teams like Celta Vigo, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, and Bournemouth attending the 2025 Samba Confederations Cup edition held in Ghana.
The European tour is set to strengthen the ties between Samba Stars and many clubs in the United Kingdom.
Many connoisseurs of youth football in West Africa have already predicted that Samba Stars is the next big home for football talents in West Africa.
Who are the clubs Samba Stars will face?
Samba Stars will spend six weeks in England, where they will play against the youth teams of clubs like Coventry City, Middlesbrough, Oxford United, Nottingham Forest and a few other big clubs.
The club will fly to England by the end of April and commence training in early May.
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