The Black Starlets of Ghana have been handed a challenging group in the WAFU B qualifiers for the 2027 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations after being drawn alongside Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo.

The draw, conducted ahead of the regional qualifying tournament, placed the Black Starlets in Group A, where they will battle three fellow West African nations for a place in the knockout stages.

Burkina Faso, one of the strongest youth football nations in the region in recent years, headlines the group, while Benin and Togo complete a competitive four-team section.

Group B features Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Nigeria, with one slot yet to be confirmed.

WAFU Zone B groups

The tournament will serve as the qualifying competition for the next CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, with teams seeking to secure one of the available places at the continental championship.

According to the schedule released by the organisers, the group-stage matches will be played between 15 and 22 September.

Matchday One is set for 15 and 16 September, followed by Matchday Two on 18 and 19 September, before the final round of group fixtures on 21 and 22 September.

For Ghana, the draw presents an opportunity to continue rebuilding the country’s youth football fortunes. The Black Starlets, four-time world champions at U-17 level, will be aiming to return to the continental stage and challenge for qualification to future global competitions.

The team will be hoping to navigate a difficult group that includes familiar regional rivals, with only the strongest performers expected to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

Attention will now turn to preparations as Ghana’s technical team finalises plans ahead of the September tournament, where the Black Starlets will seek to reclaim their place among Africa’s leading youth football nations.