Black Starlets lose 1-0 to Ivory Coast in WAFU B semi-final

Ghana’s U-17 national team, the Black Starlets, have failed to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following a narrow 1-0 semi-final defeat to Ivory Coast. The loss in the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B tournament also ends the team's prospects of reaching the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The result is a significant blow for the squad, which had entered the match with high expectations after a strong showing during the group stages of the competition.

The match was heavily influenced by an early setback when Ghanaian defender Daniel Owusu was shown a red card in the 17th minute. Despite playing with ten men for the majority of the encounter, the Starlets reportedly maintained significant control and created several clear chances to score. However, they were unable to convert their opportunities, and the Ivorian side capitalized on the situation to secure the game’s only goal and progress to the tournament final.

Following the match, head coach Kassim Ocansey expressed profound disappointment, describing the failure to qualify as "really painful" for the players and technical staff. He noted that while the team performed admirably under pressure and dominated periods of play despite the numerical disadvantage, the lack of clinical finishing proved decisive. This elimination marks a continuation of a challenging period for the youth side, which has not successfully qualified for a World Cup tournament since 2017.