The stage is set for fireworks in Yamoussoukro as the Black Starlets face hosts Ivory Coast in the grand finale of the 2025 WAFU B U17 Boys Championship on Saturday.
Ghana booked their place in the final in style, brushing aside bitter rivals Nigeria 2-0 in the semifinals. First-half goals from Michael Awuli and Robinho Yao Gavi sealed a commanding win, sparking wild celebrations and underlining the Starlets’ remarkable resurgence under Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum.
Their opponents, Ivory Coast, edged Burkina Faso 2-1 to reach the showpiece and will be brimming with confidence, having already beaten Ghana in the group stage. But the Starlets have grown stronger with each game — bouncing back from that early setback to dismantle Niger 3-1 and silence Nigeria with their most disciplined performance of the tournament.
This final is more than just a battle for the WAFU B crown. It’s about pride, revenge, and writing history. Ghana will be desperate to overturn their group-stage defeat and lift the trophy, while the Ivorians will aim to delight their fans with another famous victory.
The Charles Konan Banny Stadium is expected to be a roaring cauldron, with two of West Africa’s brightest young sides set to clash for regional supremacy.
Beyond the silverware, the winner sends a strong warning to the rest of Africa ahead of the 2026 U17 AFCON in Morocco — a reminder that the future of African football is burning bright in West Africa.
