Ghana's Black Starlets held their first training session in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Wednesday as they prepare to open their WAFU Zone B campaign against Togo on Saturday. The session, held at the Terrain USFA, was aimed at helping the players settle back into their usual preparations after a gruelling overland journey to reach the tournament host city. The team spent roughly 20 hours on the road to Ouagadougou, but the training session gave the technical team a chance to get the players back into match rhythm.
The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship is not just a regional contest, but also doubles as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. Only the top-performing teams from the zone will progress to represent West Africa B at the continental finals, meaning Ghana's results in Ouagadougou will carry direct weight on whether the Black Starlets return to the U-17 AFCON stage next year. The team finished as runners-up at last year's WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Côte d'Ivoire, which sent them through to the 2026 U-17 AFCON in Morocco.
The Black Starlets' campaign in Ouagadougou follows closely on the heels of the Black Maidens' recent appearance at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Girls Championship, reflecting Ghana's broader focus on its junior national teams across both the men's and women's pathways this season. The team's technical team will continue to work on getting the players into match rhythm ahead of Saturday's opener against Togo. The GFA reported that the session was a success, with the players showing signs of readiness for the big match.
Ghana's U17 side has a history of performing well in the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship. Last year's runners-up finish was enough to send them through to the 2026 U-17 AFCON in Morocco. The current squad will look to build on that pedigree as they target another qualifying route to the continental tournament. The team's coach and technical team will be looking to make a strong statement in the tournament, given the country's expectations.
The Black Starlets are scheduled to continue training sessions in Ouagadougou in the build-up to Saturday's match against Togo. The team will be looking to make a strong start to the tournament, which will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. Ghana's results in Ouagadougou will be crucial in determining whether the team returns to the U-17 AFCON stage next year.
The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship is a crucial event for Ghana's junior national teams, with the country's focus on developing young talent across both the men's and women's pathways. The Black Starlets' performance in the tournament will be closely watched, given the country's expectations and the team's history of producing talented young players. The team's progress will be followed closely by Ghanaian football fans and the media.
The Black Starlets will face Togo on Saturday, October 10, 2026, in what is expected to be a tightly contested opening-day fixture. The team's technical team will be looking to get the players into match rhythm and make a strong statement in the tournament. The GFA has confirmed that the team will continue to train in Ouagadougou ahead of the big match, with the players showing signs of readiness.
Key points
- The Black Starlets are seeking to qualify for the 2027 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations through their performance in the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.
- Ghana's U17 side has a history of performing well in the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, finishing as runners-up last year.
- The team's performance in the tournament will be crucial in determining whether they return to the U-17 AFCON stage next year.
