••
Ghana's U17 national team, the Black Starlets, are set to face Ivory Coast in a pivotal semi-final encounter at the 2026 WAFU Zone B Championship. The match, scheduled for Tuesday at 16:00 GMT, represents the final hurdle for the Ghanaian side in their quest to return to the continental stage. Having performed strongly in the opening rounds, the Starlets enter the knockout phase with significant momentum and the weight of national expectation.
The path to the semi-finals saw Ghana dominate Group A, finishing the group stage unbeaten to secure the top spot. Their opponents, Ivory Coast, advanced after finishing second in Group B following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nigeria. While the Black Starlets have been clinical in their previous outings, the Ivorian side is expected to present a formidable challenge, characterized by the physical and tactical discipline typical of their youth setups.
The stakes for Tuesday’s clash extend beyond a place in the regional tournament's final. A victory for the Black Starlets will officially secure Ghana’s qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. For the Ghanaian technical team and the young squad, the match is a critical opportunity to ensure the nation's presence at the continental showpiece after missing out on previous editions.
As the team prepares for the showdown, the focus remains on maintaining their unbeaten record and clinical finishing. Football enthusiasts across the country are closely monitoring the progress of this generation of talent, hoping that a win against their West African rivals will signal a resurgence for Ghana’s youth football development on the international stage.