Ghana’s Black Starlets have booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship after a commanding 3-1 victory over Benin in Ouagadougou, securing their second consecutive win in Group A.
The victory means Coach Kassim Ocansey’s side have qualified for the last four with a game to spare and are now one step away from qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, as the WAFU tournament serves as the qualifiers for the continental showpiece.
Explosive Start: Alidu Issah Brace
It was a dream start for Ghana. Star striker Issah Alidu – also spelled Alidu Issah – set the tone early and showed why he is one of the most lethal finishers in the tournament.
• 4th minute: Alidu opened the scoring with a clinical finish after Ghana pressed high from kick-off.
• 8th minute: Just four minutes later, he doubled the lead, completing a quick-fire brace that left Benin stunned and put Ghana 2-0 up inside 8 minutes.
For his devastating display, Alidu was named Player of the Match. It was his second decisive performance in the tournament.
Benin, however, refused to give up. After Ghana’s intensity dipped, the Young Cheetahs capitalized on a lapse in concentration and pulled one back in the 31st minute to make it 2-1, setting up a tense second half.
Second Half Masterclass
Coach Kassim Ocansey rang the changes after the break to inject fresh energy and control. He introduced Benedict Tano, Prince Apam, Stephen Gyasi, Nii Odoi Tawiah, and Daniel Owusu.
Ghana stayed composed, building patiently from the back and limiting Benin’s attempts to find an equalizer. The game was finally put to bed in the 81st minute:
Substitute Prince Apam showed great skill, turning away from his marker before sliding a perfect pass to fellow substitute Nii Tawiah Odoi, who finished intelligently and clinically to restore Ghana’s two-goal cushion at 3-1.
What Next?
The result confirms Ghana’s progression to the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
The Black Starlets will now face hosts Burkina Faso in their final Group A fixture on Friday, October 16, looking to finish top of the group and maintain their perfect winning momentum heading into the knockout stage.
