Black Starlets fall to Ivory Coast in WAFU B U-17 final

Black Starlets suffered heartbreak in Yamoussoukro after losing 4-3 on penalties to hosts Ivory Coast in the final of the WAFU B U-17 Championship.The clash ended goalless in regulation time, with both sides unable to find a breakthrough despite creating several chances. In the shootout, Ghana came up short as the Ivorians converted four of their spot kicks to claim the regional crown.It was a painful defeat for the Starlets, who had grown stronger as the tournament progressed after a shaky start in the group stage. Their spirited run included a semifinal victory over Nigeria, but they could not repeat the feat against Cte dIvoire in the decisive match.While the loss denied Ghana a regional title, their runners-up finish secures qualification for the 2026 TotalEnergies U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the team will have another opportunity to compete among the continents elite. Read Full Story