The Black Starlets opened their campaign at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship with a 1-0 victory over Togo on Saturday at the August 4 Sports Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
David Kwarteng scored the decisive goal just seven minutes into the encounter, handing coach Kassim Ocansey’s side a valuable three points in their quest to qualify for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.
The goal came from a well-rehearsed set-piece routine initiated by Abdul Latif Wunzalgu. After Latif’s free-kick delivery was blocked, captain Abdul Rafiu Issah followed up with an attempt that eventually fell to Kwarteng, who finished to give Ghana an early lead.
The Black Starlets delighted the fans with an exciting display of attacking football, creating several opportunities to extend their advantage. However, their inability to convert those chances meant they had to settle for a narrow victory despite enjoying promising spells in the game.
Striker Alidu Issah, winger Yaw Acheampong and playmaker Abdul Latif Wunzalgu all had opportunities to increase Ghana’s lead but failed to find the back of the net. Their missed chances denied the Starlets the opportunity to put the result beyond Togo’s reach and left the contest open until the final whistle.
Despite the wastefulness in front of goal, the victory represents an important start for Ghana, who are seeking to secure qualification for the 2027 U-17 AFCON through the WAFU Zone B tournament.
The three points also put the Black Starlets top of Group A following an earlier goalless draw between hosts Burkina Faso and Benin.
Ghana will return to action on Tuesday, October 13, against Benin in their second group game, knowing that another positive result would strengthen their position in the race for qualification. Coach Ocansey will, however, expect his attackers to be more clinical as the competition progresses.
