Black Starlets boss Kassim Ocansey says beating Ivory Coast in Ouagadougou is the real prize, with a 2027 U17 AFCON ticket on the line.
Ghana's Black Starlets have one job on Tuesday: beat Ivory Coast and book a seat at the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Head coach Kassim Ocansey has made it clear that the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship semi-final is the match that matters most.
The tie kicks off at 16:00 GMT at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou. The winner moves into the final and also claims one of the places on offer for the continental tournament, which is why Ocansey rates this game above the title decider itself.
His reasoning is blunt. Lose the semi-final, and whatever Ghana has achieved earlier in the tournament counts for nothing. Ocansey says his side has prepared thoroughly, and that is the message he has driven home to his young squad.
The technical team has studied Ivory Coast closely, according to the coach, and has pinpointed their strengths and weaknesses, along with the areas Ghana must manage in a high-pressure knockout. Ocansey does not dismiss the opposition, calling them a capable side, but he believes his players are ready for the challenge.
For Ghana, the stakes go beyond one result. A win keeps the dream of a place among Africa's best U17 teams alive, and it hands this group of Black Starlets the chance to announce themselves on the continental stage.
