Ghana’s Black Starlets secure top spot after powerful unbeaten run at WAFU B U17 Championship

Ghana’s Black Starlets finished top of Group A at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship after holding hosts Burkina Faso to a goalless draw in their final group-stage match in Ouagadougou.

Coach Kassim Ocansey’s team ended the opening phase of the tournament unbeaten, collecting seven points from three matches to claim first place and book their place in the semi-finals.

The Black Starlets began their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Togo before producing a stronger attacking display to defeat Benin 3-1.

Those results secured their qualification for the knockout stage, allowing Ghana to approach their final group fixture against Burkina Faso without the pressure of needing a win to progress.

Their goalless draw against the hosts completed an impressive group-stage campaign in which Ghana demonstrated both attacking efficiency and defensive discipline.

Black Starlets Finish Group Stage Unbeaten

Ghana’s performance across the three matches provided a solid foundation for their pursuit of the tournament title.

The opening victory over Togo gave Ocansey’s side a positive start, while the subsequent win against Benin confirmed their place in the semi-finals.

The team then showed resilience against Burkina Faso, keeping a clean sheet to preserve their unbeaten record.

The Black Starlets scored four goals and conceded only once during the group stage.

That record highlighted their ability to find the net while maintaining a well-organised defence against their opponents.

Although the final match ended without a goal, the result was enough to ensure Ghana remained at the top of Group A with seven points.

Their two victories and one draw gave them a consistent run of results heading into the decisive stages of the competition.

Finishing first in the group also means the team can turn its attention to preparing for the semi-finals, where the challenge is expected to increase as the tournament moves closer to its conclusion.

Ghana await semi-final opponents

The Black Starlets and their technical team will now wait for the outcome of the final Group B encounter between Nigeria and Ivory Coast to discover which side they will face in the semi-finals.

With their group-stage campaign complete, Ocansey’s immediate task will be to prepare his players for the knockout fixture and maintain the form that helped Ghana finish unbeaten.

The team’s defensive record will be an important source of confidence, having conceded only once in three matches.

Their four goals also showed that they can make effective use of their opportunities in front of goal.

However, the semi-finals will present a different test, with Ghana needing to reproduce the discipline and determination they displayed during the group stage if they are to advance towards the final.

Title and AFCON qualification in sight

Ghana will now look to carry their momentum into the knockout rounds as they pursue the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship trophy.

The tournament also offers an important opportunity in the Black Starlets’ wider ambitions, with qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations among their objectives.

Having secured top spot in Group A without losing a match, Ghana have put themselves in a promising position.

Their next performance will determine whether they can turn that strong start into further progress in the competition.

For Ocansey and his players, the focus will now be on the semi-final challenge as they seek to keep their title hopes alive and move closer to their continental ambitions.