Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey Mingle says Ghana have achieved their first target at the WAFU B U17 Championship and are now focused on qualifying for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana secured a semi-final spot with a 3-1 win over Benin, with one group-stage match remaining.
Ocansey Mingle said the team set three targets before the tournament: reach the semi-finals, qualify for the U-17 AFCON by reaching the final, and win the WAFU B title.
“Coming here, we had three targets: to qualify for the semi-final, to qualify for the AFCON by being finalists, and to lift the trophy. So far, the first target of making it to the semi-final has been achieved. We have two more to chase and, In Sha Allah, we will achieve,” he said.
Despite the win, Ocansey Mingle believes his side could have scored more goals but was satisfied with their finishing.
“We could have scored more than three, but Alhamdulillah, we are okay. We worked on goalscoring at training and we have scored three today, so we are okay. If your team creates chances and they end up scoring three, it’s okay, but there is more room for improvement,” he added.
The Black Starlets will now look to build on their progress by reaching the final to secure qualification for the 2027 U-17 AFCON before pursuing their ultimate target of winning the tournament.
