Ghana’s hopes of making it to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations are still alive and kicking, despite their recent loss in the WAFU B U17 Cup of Nations semifinals. The Black Starlets fell short, losing 2-1 to Burkina Faso at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
However, all is not lost for Ghana as they still have a chance to break their streak of missing out on two consecutive U17 AFCONs and World Cups. The organizers of the WAFU B U17 AFCON are currently waiting for confirmation from CAF regarding the qualification process for the 2025 U17 AFCON.
In the past, only the top two teams from the tournament would qualify for the 12-team U17 AFCON, with the top four teams earning spots in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. But with the expansion of the 2025 U17 FIFA World Cup to accommodate up to 48 teams, Africa will now have the opportunity to send as many as 9 or 10 representatives to the tournament.
CAF now faces the dilemma of whether to expand the U-17 AFCON or come up with a new format for selecting the 10 representatives. If the tournament does expand, it could mean that WAFU B might secure 3 or 4 spots, giving Ghana a chance to qualify.
The fate of the Black Starlets now rests on their performance in the 3rd place playoff game, as they look to secure a strong position until a final decision is made. The next five editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be hosted by Qatar from 2025 to 2029, adding to the excitement for teams aiming to make their mark on the international stage.
