David Kwarteng's seventh-minute strike makes WAFU Zone B U-17 history and hands the Black Starlets a winning start in Ouagadougou.
Ghana's David Kwarteng has etched his name into the record books, scoring the first goal of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship to fire the Black Starlets past Togo 1-0 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The midfielder needed just seven minutes on Saturday, October 10, at the August 4 Sports Stadium. The move began with a free-kick from Abdul Latif Wunzalgu, which Togo managed to block. Captain Abdul Rafiu Issah followed up with another effort, and Kwarteng was sharpest to the loose ball, smashing it home for the opener.
That early strike proved decisive. The Black Starlets stayed disciplined and protected their advantage to bag all three points from their first outing, and the result sent Ghana to the top of Group A. Hosts Burkina Faso and Benin played out a goalless draw in the other fixture.
The stakes are high for Ghana, who are chasing qualification for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations through this regional competition. A perfect opening day puts them in a strong position early.
Next up for Kwarteng and his teammates is a Group A clash with Benin on Tuesday, October 13, as they look to build on a winning start.