Black Starlets midfielder Mensah Kagawa says Ghana is ready for their make-or-break semi-final against Nigeria in the WAFU Zone B U17 Boys Championship on Tuesday.
The youngster, who was one of the standout performers in Ghana’s group-stage campaign, spoke after the team wrapped up their final training session in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
He stressed that the clash carries weight far beyond the tournament.
“We know Ghana-Nigeria matches go beyond football,” Kagawa said.
“It is a rivalry that carries history, pride, and passion. We are fully aware of what is at stake, and as a team, we are ready to give everything on the pitch to make the nation proud.”
The Starlets’ belief was rekindled after a convincing 3-1 victory over Niger in their last group game, where Kagawa produced a spectacular long-range goal to seal the result.
He believes that performance came at the perfect time.
“That win gave us the right momentum,” he explained. “We corrected a lot of our mistakes from the previous games, and now the team is in the right frame of mind. Personally, I feel motivated to deliver again for Ghana.”
Victory in Tuesday’s showdown at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium will guarantee a place in the final and automatic qualification for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
