Ghana’s U-17 national team, the Black Starlets, are in high spirits ahead of their opening match against Togo at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championshi
Ghana’s U-17 national team, the Black Starlets, are in high spirits ahead of their opening match against Togo at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, according to head coach Kassim Ocansey.
The Black Starlets will face Togo on Saturday, 10 October, at the August 4 Sports Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 GMT.
Ocansey believes the team’s preparations, including two international friendly matches in Morocco, have helped build the confidence needed to make a strong start to the regional competition.
“We’ve had good preparations, and the trip to Morocco for the two friendlies we played with them has boosted the confidence of the players,” he said.
“There is a positive mood in camp, and I’m confident that the boys will make themselves and Ghana proud against Togo on Saturday.”
The team has continued its preparations since arriving in the Burkinabe capital, with training sessions focused on getting the players ready for the demands of the tournament.
For Ocansey and his technical team, the immediate challenge is to turn that preparation into a convincing performance when the competition begins.
Ghana head into the tournament with valuable experience from last year’s campaign, when they finished runners-up at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
That performance secured the Black Starlets a place at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, giving the team further experience at youth international level.
The coaching staff will hope that experience helps the players handle the pressure of their opening fixture and build momentum in the competition.
A positive result against Togo would give Ghana an important early boost as they seek to challenge for the title.
The Ghana Football Association says the squad is determined to make its preparations count and deliver a strong performance.
With confidence growing in camp, the Black Starlets will now look to show their readiness on the pitch and begin their campaign on a winning note.
COMMENTS