Sports
Ghana make return to U-17 AFCON after 9-year hiatus
Ghana’s Black Starlets have finally booked their return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a long nine-year absence, sealing qualification for the 2026 edition in Morocco with a 2-0 win over Nigeria in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B Championship in Yamoussoukro.
The victory, courtesy of goals from John Awule and Robhino Gavi Yao, ensured Ghana secured one of the two qualification slots available to the sub-region.
It also marked the end of a frustrating drought, as the Starlets had missed out on four consecutive tournaments since their last appearance in 2017.
Ghana’s previous outing at the U-17 AFCON came in Gabon, where they finished as runners-up to Mali and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India the same year, eventually reaching the quarter-finals.
Since then, qualification setbacks and inconsistency have denied the nation a place on the continental stage, sparking concern over the development of youth football.
Prosper Ogum’s side have impressed in Yamoussoukro with their attacking flair and defensive discipline, and they now have the chance to not only contest for the WAFU B crown against hosts Ivory Coast but also restore the Starlets’ reputation at the continental level next year.
The return to the U-17 AFCON rekindles hope that Ghana can once again produce a new generation of stars capable of following in the footsteps of legends nurtured through the youth ranks.
Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet
