Ghana’s Black Starlets are on a mission to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2017, as they prepare towards the WAFU Zone B U-17 tournament. 

The tournament, which serves as qualification to the U-17 AFCON where teams will battle for their FIFA U-17 places, will be hosted in Ghana from May 15. 

Ghana have been drawn in Group A and will take on neighbors Côte d’Ivoire in their opening game, before matching up against Benin days later.

Laryea Kingston is Head Coach of Ghana’s U-17 side, the Black Starlets, and he is full of confidence ahead of the competition. 

“I think the players are at a good level now and all they need is motivation ahead of the tournament,” he said.

“We’ve played 14 games, scored 46 times and conceded just 12. We’ve been beaten just once, by Russia, so I believe in the boys and I can’t wait for the competition to start.”

Kingston was part of Ghana’s U-17 team that reached the World Cup final against Brazil back in 1997, and will be looking repeat that success with this current group as Head Coach.