Black Starlets edge Zilina FC in friendly as WAFU U-17 preparations intensify

Ghana’s U-17 men’s national team, the Black Starlets, continued their preparations for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Division Two side Zilina FC in a friendly match.

The encounter formed part of the Starlets’ preparations ahead of the regional tournament, which will be staged in Côte d’Ivoire next month and also serves as the qualification pathway to the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The young Ghanaians, eager to reclaim the nation’s glory in youth football, have intensified their training camp.

The team, initially based at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, has now relocated to the University of Ghana to enhance their conditioning and fine tune tactics before departing for Abidjan.

Head coach Prosper Ogum and his technical team are working tirelessly to mold a formidable squad capable of competing with the region’s best.

Ghana will have to navigate a tough field that includes traditional rivals Nigeria, Burkina Faso, hosts Côte d’Ivoire, as well as Togo, Benin, and Niger when the competition kicks off in September.

Coach Ogum is expected to name his final squad for the championship in the coming days, with hopes that the chosen players will not only secure qualification to the AFCON but also re-establish Ghana as a powerhouse in youth football.