The Black Starlets of Ghana will square off with hosts Ivory Coast today, Friday, October 3, in the final of the 2025 WAFU Zone B U-17 Boys Championship at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
Ghana booked their spot in the final after an impressive 2-0 victory over long-time rivals Nigeria in the semi-final.
First-half strikes from Michael Awuli and Robinho Yao Gavi sealed the win, lifting the confidence of the Starlets as they chase regional glory and continental recognition.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, earned their place in the decider with a narrow 2-1 win against Burkina Faso.
The Elephants hold a psychological edge heading into the clash, having handed Ghana a heavy 3-0 defeat during the group stage.
But the Starlets have bounced back strongly since that setback, overcoming Niger 3-1 before dispatching Nigeria with authority. Head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum insists his team will approach the final with renewed energy and a new tactical plan.
“It will be a different Ghana; our structure will be different, our mentality and our character will also be different. They defeated us in the group stage,” he said after the win over Nigeria.
“Fortunately, we have been able to play them so we know what to do, go back and prepare ourselves in terms of our mentality and character and how we need to stay focused on the field.
“Tactically, we also have to re-strategise to make sure that we meet them boot for boot.”
Regardless of today’s outcome, both Ghana and Ivory Coast have already secured qualification to the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, having claimed the two available slots from the WAFU Zone B Championship.
