Ghana and Senegal will meet in a pivotal Group D encounter at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, with both nations under pressure to secure their first victory of the tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Namibian referee Negongo Naftal will officiate the match, which is due to take place at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat, Morocco. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
The fixture is expected to play a significant role in shaping the standings in Group D after both sides endured disappointing starts to their campaigns.
Ghana’s Black Starlets began the competition with a 2-2 draw against Algeria, leaving them in need of a positive result to strengthen their chances of progressing to the next stage of the tournament. Senegal, meanwhile, suffered defeat to South Africa in their opening match and currently sit at the bottom of the group standings.
With qualification hopes already coming under pressure after only one round of matches, Sunday’s contest is expected to be highly competitive as both teams attempt to revive their campaigns.
CAF’s appointment of the officiating team comes amid expectations of an intense encounter between two sides eager to avoid further setbacks in the competition.
Naftal will lead the officiating crew for the match, assisted by Djibouti’s Eleyeh Robleh, who has been named Assistant Referee One. Emmanuel Habumugisha will serve as Assistant Referee Two.
CAF has also appointed Zambian officials Hillary Hambada and Nancy Kasitu to take up the roles of fourth referee and reserve assistant referee respectively.
Beyond the on-field officials, the governing body has also named key administrative and technical personnel for the game. Zambia’s Justin Mumba will act as Match Commissioner, while Cameroonian official Evarist Menkouande has been assigned the role of referee assessor.
The meeting between Ghana and Senegal is likely to attract considerable attention given the importance of the result for both nations. A victory for either side would provide a major boost in the race for qualification from Group D, while another setback could leave their hopes hanging in the balance.
Ghana will be looking to build on the positives from their draw with Algeria, where they managed to secure a point in a challenging opening fixture. Senegal, on the other hand, enter the match aiming to recover from their defeat to South Africa and avoid slipping further behind their rivals in the group.
The U17 Africa Cup of Nations continues to serve as one of the continent’s leading youth competitions, providing young footballers with the opportunity to showcase their talent on a major stage. For Ghana and Senegal, however, immediate attention will be focused on securing a result that could determine the direction of their tournament campaigns.
Sunday’s encounter in Rabat is therefore expected to carry significant weight, both for the teams involved and for the wider Group D standings, as the battle for qualification intensifies.
