Golden Eaglets battle Ghana’s Black Starlets for U-17 AFCON ticket

Five-time world champions, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, will face the Black Starlets of Ghana in a high-stakes West African derby today, Tuesday, at the Stade Charles Konan Banny, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.  This second semi-final of the WAFU-B U-17 Championship is a do-or-die affair, as the winner automatically secures a coveted ticket to the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations. The Golden Eaglets, led by coach Manu Garba, enter the match in strong form. They topped their three-team Group B with four points, routing the Baby Cheetahs of the Benin Republic 4-1 in their opener before holding Burkina Faso to a goalless draw. The teams defense has been solid, having conceded only one goal in the tournament. In contrast, Ghanas Black Starlets struggled significantly to reach this stage. They played a 1-1 draw with Togo, suffered a three-goal loss against host nation Ivory Coast, and were nearly eliminated by the Niger Republic before securing a late 3-1 victory in the second half to clinch their semi-final spot. This semi-final clash between the West African giants promises an interesting encounter, though the Eaglets hold a recent historical advantage. Nigeria secured a 4-2 victory over the Black Starlets in the opening game of the 2022 edition and repeated their success with a 3-2 win in the bronze medal clash of the last tournament. The stakes are enormous for the Golden Eaglets. A year ago, their failure to reach the final of the last WAFU-B Championship cost them a place at the 2025 U-17 AFCON and, by extension, a chance to compete in the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup, a tournament Nigeria has won five times. A victory in todays 8:00 pm kick-off will not only secure a berth in the final but, more importantly, guarantee their return to the continental stage.  The post Golden Eaglets battle Ghanas Black Starlets for U-17 AFCON ticket appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.