Ghana’s U-17 AFCON Qualification Dreams Not Over Yet

By: Nutifafa Bequine

The Ghana’s U-17 youth team, Black Starlets still have hope of qualifying to African Cup of Nations despite losing out on the WAFU zone B final and failing to gain automatic slot to the AFCON campaign.

Coach Laryea Kingston sides lost their semi final match to Burkina Faso 2-1, crushing the hope of automatic qualification to the AFCON.

Ghana will play against Nigeria in the third place play-off and it’s important to win to merit a qualification.

Following FIFA World Cup expansion from 24 to 48 participants, CAF may be required to produce 9 or 10 representatives at the FIFA World Cup.

CAF will now have to expand the U-17 AFCON to increase participation or use different metrics in selecting participants unlike the former norm of 12 teams AFCON tournament and the first four earn slots to FIFA world cup.

According to Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo of Joy Sports, The organizers of this year’s WAFU zone B championship are yet to receive information on the number of teams to qualify for AFCON from the zone.

Ghana’s qualification hope is not entirely shuttered, however, the starlets will need a win the third place play-off schedule for Tuesday May 28,2024 at 15:00 hours GMT against Nigeria to stand a chance.