Ghana handed demanding Group A draw for 2027 U-17 AFCON qualifying campaign

Ghana’s Black Starlets will face hosts Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo in Group A of the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament for the WAFU Zone B.

The regional competition, which will also serve as the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, begins on 10 October 2026 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Kassim Ocansey Mingle’s side must finish strongly in a group featuring four West African neighbours with established youth football traditions. Their campaign will begin with the Black Starlets attempting to negotiate a demanding series of matches against Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo.

The tournament is the regional route to the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The participating countries will compete for the chance to represent WAFU Zone B at the continental finals, making each group-stage fixture important in the qualification race.

Burkina Faso’s presence adds an extra challenge for Ghana, with the hosts also competing on home soil. They have regularly proved themselves to be a competitive force in youth football and will be seeking to use the tournament to secure progress from the group.

Benin and Togo will complete a closely contested section. Both nations will be hoping to make a strong impression and advance to the latter stages of the competition, ensuring that the Black Starlets face opponents with ambitions of their own.

For Ghana, the tournament represents an opportunity to regain a place among Africa’s leading youth teams. The Black Starlets will therefore approach the qualifying campaign with the aim of producing a strong performance in Ouagadougou and progressing from the group.

The WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship will kick off on 10 October 2026. Its outcome will determine which nation or nations from the zone earn the opportunity to compete at the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

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