Ghana’s Black Starlets will face Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship after the Ivorians finished second in Group B.
Ivory Coast secured their place in the last four with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria on Saturday, setting up a meeting with Group A winners Ghana.
The first semi-final will take place on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT, with victory securing a place in the final and qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ghana reached the semi-finals unbeaten after collecting seven points from three group matches. Coach Kassim Ocansey’s side began with wins over Togo and Benin before drawing 0-0 with hosts Burkina Faso in their final Group A fixture.
The Black Starlets scored four goals and conceded only one during the group stage, finishing top of their section.
Their next objective will be to preserve that unbeaten record against Ivory Coast and secure qualification for the continental tournament in Morocco. A win would also take Ghana into the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship final as they continue their pursuit of the title.
Ivory Coast finished behind Niger in Group B and will provide a significant test for Ocansey’s team. Both sides know the semi-final carries more than the prospect of reaching the final, as the winner will also guarantee a place at the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The losing team, however, will miss out on qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
The match therefore represents a decisive stage of Ghana’s campaign. Ocansey and his players will be seeking another disciplined display on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten run, reach the championship final and secure their place at the continental tournament.