We’ve prepared very well for Ivory Coast – Black Starlets coach

Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey says Ghana’s semi-final match against Ivory Coast at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship is more important than the final.

He said qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the team’s main target.

Ghana will face Ivory Coast on Tuesday at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou, with kick-off set for 16:00 GMT. The winner will reach the final and secure a place at the continental tournament in Morocco.

Speaking ahead of the match, Ocansey stressed that winning the semi-final was vital, as losing would make the team’s efforts in the competition count for little.

“We’ve prepared very well for this game. This game is more important than even the final. Because the team that wins this game qualifies for the AFCON. If you don’t win here, whatever you have done in the tournament becomes Cos 90. So, we’ve prepared very well for it.”

Ocansey also said his technical team had studied Ivory Coast’s strengths and weaknesses ahead of the match.

“We’ve watched them (Ivory Coast). We have seen their strengths and weaknesses and we have prepared for the game. They are not a bad side but In Sha Allah, we will beat them to qualify for the AFCON.”

Ghana go into the semi-final unbeaten after topping Group A with seven points from three matches. The Black Starlets began with a 1-0 win over Togo, beat Benin 3-1 and drew 0-0 with hosts Burkina Faso.

Ivory Coast finished second in Group B after a 1-1 draw with Nigeria.

With a place at the 2027 U-17 AFCON at stake, Ocansey and his players will aim to beat Ivory Coast and secure Ghana’s qualification for the tournament.

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