2026 WAFU B U-17 Championship: Black Starlets target unbeaten group-stage finish against Burkina Faso

The Black Starlets of Ghana will aim to maintain their unbeaten run at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship when they face hosts Burkina Faso in their final Group A match in Ouagadougou.

Kassim Ocansey’s side have already secured qualification for the semi-finals following two consecutive victories but will be determined to finish the group stage strongly against a Burkina Faso team hoping to capitalise on home advantage.

The Starlets opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Togo, courtesy of David Kwarteng’s decisive goal, before recording a 3-1 victory over Benin to confirm their place in the last four.

Despite securing qualification, captain Issah Abdul Rafiu has insisted that Ghana will not ease off against the hosts, stressing the need for the team to maintain its focus and address the mistakes made in their previous outing.

“Despite the fact that we have already qualified for the semi-final, we aren’t going to relax. We (the players) are focused. Just like our coach said, we lost concentration against Benin, but as players we have spoken amongst ourselves, and we’ll correct our mistakes,” Issah said.

Burkina Faso, meanwhile, will look to draw inspiration from their home supporters and familiarity with local conditions as they seek a positive result against the two-time FIFA U17 World Cup champions.

For Ghana, the encounter offers another opportunity to sharpen their attacking play and build momentum ahead of the knockout stage.

Although they have created several scoring chances in their opening matches, the technical team will be keen to see greater efficiency in front of goal.

A strong performance against the hosts would further boost the Black Starlets’ confidence as they pursue the title and a place at the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, with the WAFU Zone B tournament serving as a qualifying competition for the continental championship.