BY GRACE ZIGAH
Ghana’s Black Starlets face a crucial test against Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, with a place in the final and qualification for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at stake.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for Tuesday at 16:00 GMT, following the conclusion of the group stage, which set up a meeting between Ghana, Group A winners, and Ivory Coast, who finished second in Group B.
For the Black Starlets, the fixture represents an opportunity to maintain their unbeaten run, advance to the final and secure a place at next year’s continental competition.
Ghana, under head coach Kassim Mingle Ocansey, have impressed in the tournament so far, collecting seven points from three group matches. They opened their campaign with victories over Togo and Benin before playing out a goalless draw against hosts Burkina Faso in their final group fixture.
The results saw Ghana finish top of Group A without suffering a defeat. The team scored four goals and conceded just one, demonstrating a solid defensive structure alongside its attacking threat.
However, the semi-final against Ivory Coast is expected to provide a tougher examination, with both sides aware that a place at the continental tournament is within reach.
Ivory Coast booked their place in the last four after drawing 1-1 with Nigeria on Saturday. The result confirmed their second-place finish in Group B behind group winners Niger, setting up the decisive showdown with Ghana.
The Ivorians will be determined to overcome the Black Starlets and secure their own passage to the final and the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Unlike the group-stage fixtures, where teams can recover from dropped points, the semi-final leaves little room for error. Victory will guarantee qualification for the tournament in Morocco, while defeat will end either team’s hopes of qualifying through the WAFU Zone B competition.
For coach Ocansey and his technical team, preparations will centre on maintaining Ghana’s defensive discipline, improving attacking efficiency and ensuring the players handle the pressure of a match carrying such significant consequences.
The Black Starlets will also be encouraged by their performances in the group stage, having demonstrated the ability to secure results against different opponents while remaining unbeaten.
Nevertheless, Ghana must avoid complacency against an Ivorian side that has also shown its competitiveness by reaching the semi-finals.
The stakes extend beyond reaching the final. Qualification for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations would give Ghana’s young players an opportunity to compete against some of the continent’s strongest emerging football talents and take another step in their international development.
