The Black Starlets of Ghana concluded their preparations for the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations with a narrow defeat to Mali in their final friendly match before the tournament in Morocco.
A second-half goal from Mali’s young side handed the Black Starlets a 1-0 loss in a match that served as the final assessment for coach Prosper Ogum ahead of the continental competition.
The encounter was Ghana’s third preparatory game before the start of the tournament and offered the coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate the squad’s readiness. Mali also used the fixture to complete their own preparations for the championship.
Despite the defeat, Ogum expressed satisfaction with aspects of his team’s performance and insisted the game provided the kind of challenge his players needed before the competition begins.
“This was the type of test we needed ahead of the AFCON. Mali gave us intensity, discipline, and competition at a very high level, and I’m happy with how the boys responded,” he said after the match.
The former Asante Kotoko coach acknowledged that his side created opportunities to score and believed the performance contained encouraging signs, even though Ghana failed to find the net.
“We created enough chances to win the game, but sometimes football is like that. What is important for me is the way the boys approached the game, their movement, their pressing, and their confidence on the ball. These are things we can build on heading into the tournament.”
Ogum also stressed that the result itself was less important than the lessons learned from the match, explaining that the technical team had identified areas requiring improvement before the start of the competition.
“At this stage, results are secondary to preparation. We have identified a few areas to improve, and that is exactly why these matches are important. I am convinced the team will be ready when the tournament starts.”
The defeat followed an impressive result in Ghana’s previous warm-up match, where the Black Starlets recorded a commanding 4-0 victory over Ivory Coast. That performance had raised optimism around the team’s prospects heading into the tournament.
The coaching staff are expected to use the remaining days before the opening fixtures to fine-tune tactics and address issues identified during the friendly campaign.
Ghana, who are two-time champions of the competition, will compete in a difficult Group D at the 2026 Africa U17 Cup of Nations. The Black Starlets have been drawn alongside Algeria, Senegal and South Africa in a group expected to provide a stern challenge for all four nations.
The tournament in Morocco will offer Ghana another opportunity to compete for continental honours at youth level, with the Black Starlets hoping to build on their preparations despite the setback against Mali.
Although the loss ended their friendly programme on a disappointing note, the coaching staff appear focused on the broader objective of ensuring the team is fully prepared when the competition gets under way.
