AFCON U-17: Ghana ready for Ivory Coast friendly – Ogum

Ghana’s U-17 will step up preparations for the Africa junior championship with a warm up friendly against Ivory Coast.

The Black Starlets will square off with the Young Elephants in a double-header friendly at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

⚽️ Matchday in Côte d’Ivoire! 🇨🇮

✨ The #BlackStarlets will take on Côte d’Ivoire’s Young Elephants today in the first of two international friendlies, a key preparatory fixture ahead of the U-17 AFCON. 🇬🇭

⏰ 16:00 GMT pic.twitter.com/Mc487K8HRg

— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) April 27, 2026

Black Starlets head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum says Ivory Coast will provide the needed level of opposition as his side step up preparations for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) later this year.

Prosper Ogum is ready for challenge

“These matches are very important for us at this stage of our preparation,” he told the Ghana FA website.

“We need strong opposition to properly assess the team and make the right adjustments before the tournament.

“Playing Ivory Coast away gives us a real competitive edge. It will test our mentality, our structure, and our ability to cope under pressure,” the former Kotoko coach added.

The Black Starlets have already arrived in Ebimpe, Abidjan, after departing Ghana on Sunday to continue their final phase of preparations.

The first fixture is set for Tuesday, April 28, followed by the second on Friday, May 1.

Ghana have been drawn in Group D at the U-17 AFCON Senegal, Algeria and South Africa.

Ghana chasing second AFCON title

Ghana is chasing its third Africa Cup of Nations after clinching the titles in 1995 and 1999 in Mali and Guinea respectively.

The next tournament in Morocco will serve as the qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted in Qatar.

The top 10 teams qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup as the CAF representatives.