Head coach of the Black Starlet, s Abdul Karim Zito, admits he is downed by the disqualification of two of his key players for the CAF U17 qualifying tournament.

Ghana will take on hosts Niger and Togo in the group phase of the newly adopted qualifying format for the 2019 U17 Africa Cup finals to be staged by Tanzania.

The Black Starlets will now be heading into the tournament without influential duo Adams Saad and Emmanuel Bio who have been disqualified on the basis of failing the final MRI test.

Both players at the time of joining the Ghana U17 camp were within the approved MRI grade but this has changed in the course of almost four months in camp.

Coach Karim Zito has been worst hit by the news of the duo’s disqualification as they formed an integral part of his plans going into the tournament especially in attack.

“It was very heartbreaking to learn that these two players will not be in my team for the tournament,” Zito affectionately called ‘The Professor’ told FootballmadeinGhana.com.

“They were very key to my plans and have been playing so so well.

“It is very unfortunate and I feel for the boys but then what can we do?”

Zito must now find replacements before embarking on the trip to Niger with a 25-man squad on Monday.

He will make a final cut to the required 21 before the competition begins on September 2