Ghana’s U-20 national athletics team departs Accra today, Sunday, 2 August, bound for Eugene, Oregon, where it they will represent the country at the World Athletics U-20 Championships from 5 to 9 August 2026.
Ghana Athletics has confirmed the travelling party’s tickets were secured with the support of Hon. Kofi Adams, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, whose intervention the federation says made the team’s participation possible.
The delegation will be led by Yaw Boakye Yiadom, who takes charge of a compact squad built around two of the country’s most promising young quarter-milers. Both athletes have earned their places on the strength of performances that put them among the emerging talents to watch on the global U-20 circuit, and both will compete in the 400 metres in Eugene.
Team Ghana – Eugene 2026
Team Lead: Yaw Boakye Yiadom
Aishatu Jaffar: Women’s 400m
Godfred Opoku: Men’s 400m
For Jaffar and Opoku, the championships represent a rare early opportunity to test themselves against the best emerging talent the sport has to offer, on a stage that has historically served as a launchpad for athletes who go on to represent their countries at senior global level. Eugene, often described as America’s track and field capital, has hosted successive major championships and offers a fitting proving ground for the pair.
The participation of these outstanding athletes reflects Ghana Athletics’ continued commitment to nurturing young talent and providing them opportunities to gain valuable international experience.
Ghana Athletics used its statement announcing the trip to extend its appreciation to the Sports Ministry, singling out Hon. Kofi Adams for facilitating air tickets for the entire delegation.
The federation described the Minister’s support as reflective of an unwavering commitment to the development of athletics in the country, without which the team’s trip to Oregon would not have been possible.