WAFU B U17: It’s painful – Kassim Ocansey reats to Black Starlets defeat to Ivory Coast

Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey says Ghana could have won their semi-final clash against Ivory Coast but was left disappointed after a 1-0 defeat at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.

Ghana’s hopes of reaching the final and booking a place at the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco were dealt a blow in the 17th minute when defender Daniel Owusu received a straight red card for a tackle on an Ivorian striker.

Despite playing with 10 men for most of the game, the Starlets continued to compete and created several chances. However, they failed to make the most of their opportunities before Ivory Coast scored the decisive goal through Alex Fousseni Bamba in the 76th minute.

Speaking after the match, Ocansey said his team had been in control before the dismissal and was still capable of scoring despite the setback.

“It was a game we could have won. It was a game we were controlling until the red card on the 17th minute. Even after that, we created some good chances but missed them. And considering the time Ivory coast scored, it’s really painful.”

Ghana pushed for a late equaliser, with David Kwarteng coming close after receiving a pass from Prince Apam. However, his effort narrowly missed the target as Ivory Coast held on to secure the win.

The defeat ended the Black Starlets’ hopes of reaching the final and qualifying for the 2027 U-17 AFCON. Ivory Coast, on the other hand, advanced to the final and secured their place in the continental tournament.

The result will be a major disappointment for Ocansey and his players, who had enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage, beating Togo and Benin before drawing with hosts Burkina Faso.

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