Ghana's U17 dream in Morocco is over after a red card and a late Alex Fousseni Bamba goal sank them in the WAFU Zone B semi-final.
Ghana will not be at the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Black Starlets were eliminated from the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship on Tuesday, beaten 1-0 by Ivory Coast in the semi-final in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The night turned on the 17th minute at the 4th August Stadium. Defender Daniel Owusu was sent off with a straight red card for an avoidable tackle on an Ivorian striker, and Ghana had to play almost the entire match a man down.
They did not fold. Kassim Ocansey's side stayed organised and fought hard, and they created chances in both halves. Alidu Issah had one of the best of them, a golden opportunity to put Ghana ahead, but he missed the target. Ivory Coast, despite the extra man, struggled to turn their advantage into goals for most of the game.
The breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute. Alex Fousseni Bamba reacted quickest in the box and finished from close range, and that was enough to send Ivory Coast through. Ghana kept pushing for an equaliser, but the numbers and the clock were against them.
It is a painful exit for a young Ghana side that showed real character. One moment of indiscipline cost them a place on the continental stage, while Ivory Coast move on with their Morocco hopes alive.
