Qualified already, Ghana's U17 skipper Issah Abdul Rafiu insists the Black Starlets will go all out against hosts Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
Ghana's Black Starlets are through to the last four of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship, but captain Issah Abdul Rafiu is making it clear the job is not finished. With a semi-final spot already locked in, the skipper says the squad will chase a strong finish to Group A when they take on hosts Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
Issah rejected any suggestion that qualification could lead to a letdown. "Despite the fact that we have already qualified for the semi-final, we aren't going to relax. We (the players) are focused," he said, underlining a group determined to keep its standards high rather than coast.
The captain also owned up to a dip in the team's earlier outing against Benin, where concentration slipped. Issah said the players have talked it through among themselves, backing up the coach's assessment, and are committed to fixing those lapses before the Burkina Faso clash.
Facing the home side in their own backyard is a stern test, and Ghana's youngsters know it. Reaching the semi-finals was the immediate target, but a disciplined, sharp display against the hosts would send a strong message about the Black Starlets' mentality as the knockout stage approaches.
