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Ghana’s Black Starlets will be chasing their first qualification to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) since 2017 when they face long-time rivals, Nigeria, in the semi-final of the WAFU Zone B Championship later today.
The highly anticipated clash is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, where Ghana will look
to revive its reputation in juvenile football against the Golden Eaglets.
Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum’s boys reached this stage after an emphatic 3-1 victory over Niger in their final group game last Saturday.
Once a dominant force in youth football, the Black Starlets have struggled in recent years but see this encounter as the perfect opportunity to rewrite their story.
The stakes are high, as meetings between Ghana and Nigeria transcend bragging rights, with both nations boasting rich football histories.
For the Black Starlets, qualification would not only restore pride but also serve as a much-needed boost, especially after the Black Stars failed to qualify for the upcoming senior AFCON.
Key performers such as Robinho Yao Gavi, who netted a brace against Niger, and creative midfielder, Mark Kagawa Mensah, are expected to play pivotal roles in today's game.
Supporting them will be the likes of Augustine Appiah, Hakeem Kasim, Mujahid Osman, and Gabriel Denyinah, who were all instrumental in the last group fixture.
Unlike Ghana, the Golden Eaglets have been more consistent at this level. They only missed out on this year’s AFCON after reaching the quarter-finals in 2023 and finishing fourth in the 2019 edition.
Motivated by the recent success of their senior counterparts, the Super Eagles, who have qualified for the Morocco 2025 AFCON, the Nigerians will be determined to follow suit by booking their ticket to the U-17 AFCON — also set to be hosted in Morocco next year.
Ghana qualified for this semi-final by finishing second in Group A, while Nigeria topped Group B to set up today’s mouth-watering West African derby.
