Ghana will face Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the WAFU B Under-17 tournament on Tuesday, 20 October, as the Black Starlets seek to secure qualification for the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The other semi-final will see Niger take on Burkina Faso at the August 4th Stadium in Ouagadougou, with both matches set to determine the finalists of the regional competition.
Ghana progressed to the last four after finishing top of Group A with seven points from three matches. The Black Starlets opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Togo before beating Benin 3-1.
They then played out a goalless draw with Burkina Faso in their final group match.
That unbeaten run secured Ghana first place in the group and a meeting with Ivory Coast, who finished second in Group B after drawing both of their matches.
The Elephants began with a 1-1 draw against Niger before recording the same scoreline against Nigeria on Saturday at the Stade du 4 Août.
Their two points were enough to secure a semi-final place, setting up a rematch with Ghana.
The fixture carries added significance because the two countries met in the final of the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Ivory Coast won that encounter on penalties, giving Ghana an opportunity to reach the final this time and potentially settle the score against their regional rivals.
The Black Starlets will be hoping their strong group-stage performance provides the foundation for another run at the title.
Their opening victories demonstrated their ability to collect points, while the draw against Burkina Faso ensured they completed the group stage without defeat.
However, Ivory Coast’s qualification despite failing to win a group match means Ghana cannot afford to underestimate the defending finalists.
The Elephants held Niger and Nigeria to draws to remain in contention for the title.
In the other semi-final, Niger will meet Burkina Faso after emerging as one of the tournament’s surprise performers.
Niger finished top of Group B with four points after drawing 1-1 with defending champions Ivory Coast and beating Nigeria 2-1.
Their results earned them a place in the last four, where they will face a Burkina Faso side that also progressed without losing a group match.
The Stallions finished second in Group A with five points. They began their campaign with a goalless draw against Benin, edged Togo 1-0 and then held Ghana to another 0-0 draw.
Burkina Faso’s defensive resilience will be tested against a Niger side that has already shown it can compete with some of the tournament’s leading teams.
The outcome will determine which country advances to the final alongside the winner of the Ghana-Ivory Coast encounter.
The WAFU B Under-17 tournament serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, making the semi-finals an important stage for the four remaining teams.
Both semi-final matches will be played on Tuesday, 20 October, at the August 4th Stadium in Ouagadougou. Ghana and Ivory Coast will meet in one tie, while Niger and Burkina Faso contest the other, with places in the final at stake.
