Ouagadougou:Ghana's Black Starlets have failed to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
According to Ghana Web, this defeat not only ends Ghana's hopes of returning to the continental competition but also rules the team out of contention for the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Entering the match in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Black Starlets were unbeaten in the tournament, having secured seven points from three group-stage matches and finishing at the top of Group A. They began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Togo, followed by a 3-1 win against Benin, and concluded the group stage with a goalless draw against hosts Burkina Faso.
However, the momentum could not be maintained against Côte d'Ivoire, who achieved the victory needed to secure their place at the continental tournament in Morocco. The semi-final served as a qualification decider, with the winners guaranteed a spot at the 2027 U-17 AFCON, leaving the losing side to miss out.
This result marks a significant setback for Ghana's youth football ambitions, especially given the country's history at the U-17 level, having won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1991 and 1995. The Black Starlets will now have to look forward to another qualifying campaign to attempt a return to both continental and global competitions.