Ghanas Black Starlets were knocked out of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship after a 1-0 semi-final defeat by Ivory Coast on Tuesday, ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The decisive moment came early in the match at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, when Ghana defender Daniel Owusu was shown a straight red card in the 17th minute.
Owusu was dismissed for an avoidable tackle on an Ivorian striker, leaving the Black Starlets to play with 10 men for the majority of the contest.
Despite the disadvantage, Kassim Ocanseys side remained competitive and created opportunities in both halves. Ghanas organisation and determination kept them in the game, while Ivory Coast were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority until the closing stages.
Alidu Issah had one of Ghanas clearest chances to take the lead, but the striker missed the target when presented with a golden opportunity.
Ivory Coast finally broke through in the 76th minute. Alex Fousseni Bamba reacted in close range to fire home and give his side the advantage that ultimately settled the semi-final.
The Black Starlets continued to push for an equaliser rather than allowing the dismissal to end their challenge. David Kwarteng came close to restoring parity after bringing down a pass from Prince Apam with a fine touch, but his subsequent effort went narrowly wide of the post.
The result means Ivory Coast have reached the competition final and secured qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ghanas defeat is a significant setback after an unbeaten group-stage campaign. The Black Starlets began the tournament with victories over Togo and Benin before drawing with hosts Burkina Faso.
Their semi-final exit also brings an end to their hopes of reaching the final and competing for the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship title.
Ghana will now turn their attention to the third-place final, where they will face the loser of the other semi-final between Niger and Burkina Faso.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, will prepare for the final after overcoming Ghana despite spending most of the match against 10 players.
