Ghana's Black Starlets stay perfect in Ouagadougou, beating Benin 3-1 to book a semi-final place at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
Ghana's Black Starlets are through to the last four of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship. They beat Benin 3-1 in their second Group A game in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and two wins from two have sealed their place in the semi-finals.
Issah Alidu was the star of the night with a brace, and Nii Tawiah Odoi added the third. Together they gave Ghana the edge in a match Benin needed to win to keep their own campaign moving.
The Starlets began the tournament with a narrow 1-0 win over Togo, courtesy of a David Kwarteng goal. That result was tight, but this one showed the side can score in numbers when the occasion calls for it. Two games, six points, and a semi-final ticket in hand.
Before kickoff, assistant coach Hamza Mohammed had made the team's intentions clear. He admitted Benin were a quality side and said they deserved respect, but insisted Ghana knew exactly who they were and what they came for. The players backed those words with their performance on the pitch.
Benin arrived looking for a first win after a goalless draw with hosts Burkina Faso in their opener. The defeat now leaves them with work to do in the group, while Ghana can look ahead to the knockout stage with momentum and a perfect record.
