Black Starlets suffered a defeat in Yamoussoukro
The Black Starlets suffered heartbreak in Yamoussoukro after losing 4-3 on penalties to hosts Ivory Coast in the final of the WAFU B U-17 Championship.
The clash ended goalless in regulation time, with both sides unable to find a breakthrough despite creating several chances.
In the shootout, Ghana came up short as the Ivorians converted four of their spot-kicks to claim the regional crown.
It was a painful defeat for the Starlets, who had grown stronger as the tournament progressed after a shaky start in the group stage.
Their spirited run included a semifinal victory over Nigeria, but they could not repeat the feat against Côte d’Ivoire in the decisive match.
While the loss denied Ghana a regional title, their runners-up finish secures qualification for the 2026 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the team will have another opportunity to compete among the continent’s elite.
