Ghana placed in Group B for 2027 U-17 Girls AFCON qualifying tournament

Ghana’s Black Maidens have been drawn in Group B of the 2027 U-17 Girls Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tournament, where they will face regional rivals Nigeria, Togo and Niger.

The competition will also serve as the WAFU Zone B U-17 Girls Championship, with the results determining which teams from the zone qualify to represent the region at next year’s continental tournament.

Ghana face a demanding route through the group, with Nigeria expected to provide the toughest test. Nigeria have a strong pedigree in women’s youth football and will be regarded as one of the leading contenders in the section.

Togo and Niger will also enter the tournament aiming to challenge the established order. Both sides will be looking to produce surprise results and secure progress to the next stage, adding further difficulty to Ghana’s qualifying campaign.

The tournament will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire and is scheduled to begin on 15 September 2026. Ghana will hope to make a positive start when the competition gets under way and build enough momentum to negotiate the group stage successfully.

For the Black Maidens, the WAFU Zone B tournament represents the first step towards a return to the U-17 Girls AFCON. Ghana will enter the regional championship with high expectations as they seek to earn a place at the 2027 continental showpiece.

Their immediate objective will be to finish strongly in Group B and advance from the opening phase. Progress would move Ghana closer to securing qualification and give the team an opportunity to compete again among Africa’s leading under-17 women’s sides.

The presence of Nigeria, Togo and Niger means the Black Maidens will have little margin for error during the group stage. Ghana will need to respond to the challenge presented by Nigeria’s youth football tradition while also avoiding setbacks against opponents determined to upset the expected order.

The tournament’s dual role as both the WAFU Zone B U-17 Girls Championship and the 2027 U-17 Girls AFCON qualifying competition gives each group match added importance. The teams will not only be competing for regional success but also for the opportunity to represent WAFU Zone B at the next continental championship.

Ghana’s campaign will therefore begin with the clear aim of reaching the decisive stages of the competition. The Black Maidens will be determined to emerge from Group B and take another important step towards joining Africa’s best U-17 women’s teams at the 2027 U-17 Girls AFCON.

GFA Communications

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