Black Starlets captain Issah Abdul Rafiu has insisted Ghana will not take their foot off the pedal when they face hosts Burkina Faso in their final Group A match at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.
Having already secured a place in the semi-finals, Ghana head into the clash with qualification guaranteed. However, Abdul Rafiu says the achievement will not affect the team’s determination to end the group stage on a high.
The skipper stressed that the players remain fully focused and are determined to maintain their winning mentality.
“Despite the fact that we have already qualified for the semi-final, we aren’t going to relax. We are focused,” he said.
Abdul Rafiu also admitted the Black Starlets lost concentration during their previous outing against Benin, but revealed the squad has addressed the issue and is determined to produce a much-improved performance.
“Just like our coach said, we lost concentration against Benin, but as players we have spoken among ourselves and we’ll correct our mistakes,” he added.
Kassim Ocansey’s side will be aiming to carry strong momentum into the knockout stage with a positive result against the tournament hosts in Ouagadougou.
The WAFU Zone B U17 Championship also serves as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the Black Starlets added motivation to maintain their impressive form.
