Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku, is optimistic the Black Starlets will excel at the upcoming U17 Africa Cup of Nations following their return to the stage.

The Black Starlets will be returning to the continental stage for the first time in eight years after booking a place through the WAFU B tournament played last year.

While there is brewing confidence among Ghanaians following the team's qualification, Okraku is looking at first making it to the World Cup.

"I believe they will go to the AFCON and will make us proud," he said in an interview with the GFA Media team.

"That will be a joyous moment for us again. I think that we belong to the elite group on the African continent.

"First [target] is to qualify to the World Cup because that is the ultimate platform."

The Black Starlets' last World Cup appearance was in 2017, hosted in India, where the team went all the way to the quarterfinal stage.

The current setup is under the tutelage of Prosper Narteh Ogum and have been in camp since the start of the year as they wrap up preparations.

The U17 AFCON is scheduled to be played in Morocco in April.