By OkayGoal
Ghanas Black Starlets will play Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship after the Ivorians finished second in Group B.
The first semi-final will take place on Tuesday at 16:00 GMT, with the winners securing a place in the final and qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ivory Coast confirmed their last-four place after drawing 1-1 with Nigeria on Saturday. They ended Group B behind winners Niger, setting up a meeting with a Ghana side that topped Group A without losing a match.
Coach Kassim Ocanseys team earned seven points from three group fixtures. They defeated Togo and Benin before ending the first stage with a goalless draw against hosts Burkina Faso.
The Black Starlets scored four times and conceded once during the group stage, results that secured top spot in Group A and extended their unbeaten run into the semi-finals.
Ghana will now look to maintain that record against Ivory Coast and move closer to winning the WAFU Zone B U17 title. The match also carries a direct route to the continental tournament in Morocco.
Both teams know victory will guarantee qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations. The team that loses, however, will miss out on qualification through this tournament.
The semi-final is therefore a decisive stage of Ghanas campaign. Ocansey and his players must overcome the Ivorians to reach the final, retain their unbeaten status and book their place at the tournament in Morocco.