Mr Ben Kuofie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) says plans are far advanced to overhaul the senior national team, the Black Stars with young talents after the African Cup of Nations in Mali.

He said the move is to raise a team, that can make an impact in the 2004 Olympics in Athens and qualify for the 2006 World Cup to be hosted by Germany.

Addressing a press conference during a one-day clinic organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for sports journalists in Accra, the FA chairman said selection into the new team would, primarily be based on talent and age so that players who are picked would not go downhill when the competitions commence.

Mr Kuofie said he wanted a very young team - average of 24 - to play the qualifiers and that selection would be opened to boys between the ages 18 and 19 who would be the pioneers of a-five-year development programme.

He said he intends to forge a closer working relationship with the Ministry of Education who are in close contact with boys in those age-brackets and ensure that their progress is monitored.

"I have realised that our boys burnout early due to the fact that most of them reduce their ages to gain selection into the junior teams and this practice, has over the years, deprived the country of their talents.

"This does not mean that the team is closed to other talented players within the age limit, who are playing well."

Mr Kuofie said he has therefore decided to allow the same technical crew to handle the national under 20 and 23 teams. He named Mr John Eshun and Malik Jabir as the coaches who would be responsible for both teams to ensure some level of continuity towards preparations for the World Youth Championship and the Olympic Games.

On the technical personnel of all the national teams, he said all those selected to head any of the teams would be given a one-year performance contract to ensure that only those who meet the FA's expectations are retained.