Ghana’s Black Starlets narrowly missed out on lifting the WAFU B U-17 Championship trophy after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in Yamoussoukro.
The highly competitive final ended in heartbreak for the young Ghanaians, who battled bravely but could not find the edge in the decisive shootout. The Ivorians held their nerve in front of a home crowd to seal victory and the regional crown.
Despite the disappointment, there was a silver lining for the Starlets, as their run to the final secured them a place at the 2026 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The qualification marks a major step forward for Ghana’s youth development programme, with the Starlets now set to test themselves against the continent’s best next year.
Fans have praised the team for their resilience and attacking flair throughout the tournament, with many viewing the qualification as a platform to rebuild Ghana’s reputation at youth level.
The Black Starlets will now turn their attention to preparations for the continental showpiece, where they will hope to take another step towards reviving the glory days of Ghana’s famed youth football.
