WAFU-B U-17: Nigeria and Ghana set for semifinal showdown

Nigeria and Ghana are set to face off in Tuesday’s second semi-final from the ongoing WAFU-B U-17 Championship at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.

Five-time FIFA U-17 world champions Nigeria have been in good form in the tournament, scoring four goals and conceding only one, in the process amassing four points to top the three-team group B.

The Golden Eaglets kicked off their campaign in emphatic style with a resounding 4-1 victory over Benin, showcasing their attacking prowess with four goals scored within the first 35 minutes. They then battled to a tense goalless draw with Burkina Faso in their final group fixture.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Black Starlets struggled to qualify to the semi finals. The team played 1-1 with Togo in their opening game in Group A and then fell to Ivory Coast by three goals in their second game and were on the verge of crashing out when the scoreline stood at 1-1 against Niger, before two late goals in the second half secured a win and qualification for the semifinals.

The rivalry at this regional level has recently favored the Golden Eaglets. Nigeria holds a superior head-to-head record against the Black Starlets at the U-17 level. Notably, the Golden Eaglets defeated their counterparts 4-2 in the opening game of the 2022 edition, which was hosted by Ghana in Cape Coast. The same taste of victory was savored by Nigeria when they triumphed 3-2 over the Black Starlets in the bronze medal match of the last edition, held in Accra, Ghana.

Another win for the Golden Eaglets in Tuesday’s clash will not only secure a berth in the final, but also qualification to the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.