2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship: Black Starlets focused on securing qualification to the semi-final - Assistant coach Hamza Mohammed

Assistant coach Hamza Mohammed says the Black Starlets are determined to secure a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Ghana began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Togo, with David Kwarteng scoring the decisive goal to give the team a winning start.

The Black Starlets will face Benin in their second Group A fixture, knowing that victory would guarantee their progression to the last four.

Benin, however, will be keen to frustrate Ghana’s ambitions after opening their campaign with a goalless draw against hosts Burkina Faso.

The Beninese side will be targeting their first win of the tournament to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Hamza acknowledged the challenge Benin would pose but insisted that Ghana remained focused on securing qualification.

“We know they will come hard, but we are focused on securing qualification to the semi-final. Benin have a very good team, we respect them, but we know who we are and what we want,” he said.

The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship also serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, adding further significance to Ghana’s campaign.