Ghana's Black Starlets can book a last-four place in Ouagadougou on Tuesday, and assistant coach Mohammed Hamza says the squad is locked in.
Ghana's Black Starlets are one win away from the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, and they know it. A victory over Benin in Tuesday's Group A clash in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, would send the four-time continental hopefuls through to the last four.
Assistant coach Mohammed Hamza addressed the media on Monday and kept the message simple. He praised Benin as a quality side, young and hungry just like his own players, but made it clear that respect will not get in the way of the mission. Ghana's focus, he said, is on securing qualification and giving everything on the day.
The Starlets arrive in good spirits after opening their campaign with a 1-0 win over Togo. That result has made them the only team with a victory so far in the tournament, a position Hamza admits lifts the squad's confidence but also raises the stakes. Being out front means every opponent will want to knock them off, and the expectations at home grow with each result.
For a group of teenagers chasing a place on the regional stage, Tuesday is a chance to turn a strong start into a statement. Win, and Ghana take control of their own tournament. Slip up, and the pressure only gets heavier. The Black Starlets have made their intentions clear, and now they have to deliver in Ouagadougou.
