Black Starlets coach Kasim Mingle says Ghana have achieved their first objective at the WAFU B U17 Championship after securing a place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
Ghana booked their place in the last four with a 3-1 victory over Benin on Tuesday, recording their second consecutive win to strengthen their bid for qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking after the match, Mingle said the team had arrived at the tournament with three clear objectives: reaching the semi-finals, qualifying for the U17 AFCON by making the final, and winning the WAFU B title.
The former Nations FC and Swedru All Blacks coach expressed satisfaction with his players for achieving their first target but insisted that the team remained focused on the two outstanding objectives.
“Coming here, we had three targets: to qualify for the semi-final, to qualify for the AFCON by being finalists and to lift the trophy. So far, the first target of making it to the semi-final has been achieved. We have two more to chase, and in Sha Allah we will achieve,” he said.
The Black Starlets will now turn their attention to their final group-stage fixture as they seek to maintain their winning momentum ahead of the knockout stages.
Reaching the final would guarantee Ghana a place at the 2027 U17 AFCON, while winning the competition remains Mingle’s ultimate ambition.
Ghana will be hoping to build on their strong start and complete the remaining stages of the tournament successfully as they pursue continental qualification and the WAFU B title.
