Black Starlets coach assistant coach Hamza Mohammed says the team is determined to secure qualification to the semifinals of the ongoing 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ghana opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Togo, with avid Kwarteng scoring the only goal of the game. The Black Starlets will now face Benin in their second Group A match, with a win guaranteeing Ghana qualification for the semi-finals.
Benin, however, will be determined to stand in Ghana’s way after opening their campaign with a goalless draw against hosts Burkina Faso.
The Beninese side will be targeting their first victory of the tournament to boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stage. Speaking to the media, Hamza Mohammed has acknowledged the threat posed by Benin but insists Ghana are focused on securing qualification.
“We know they will come hard, but we are focused on securing qualification to the semi-final. Benin have a very good team; we respect them, but we know who we are and what we want,” Hamza said ahead of the encounter.
The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship also serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
