WAFU B U17 Girls Cup: Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire set for semis clash today

The Black Maidens are set to face Côte d'Ivoire in a thrilling semi-final clash today at the Ghana Football Association’s Technical Centre (Ghanaman Soccer Centre for Excellence) in Prampram, as the inaugural WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup reaches its crucial stages.

Both teams have impressed with their performances, setting the stage for a gripping contest for a place in the final.

Ghana topped Group A with a perfect six points, showcasing their dominance throughout the tournament. Côte d'Ivoire, in contrast, secured second place in Group B with three points, but have shown grit and determination to reach this stage, making them a formidable opponent for the Maidens.

The Maidens have been in excellent form, especially in their opening match, where they triumphed 4-1 over Benin. Christiana Ashiaku was the standout performer, scoring a brilliant first-half hat-trick that earned her the tournament's Most Valuable Player award.

Three days later, the Maidens sealed their semi-final spot with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Benin. Gertrude Amoafo was the hero in that encounter, with a scintillating second-half performance, including the decisive goal that propelled Ghana into the last four.

Resilient Ivorians

The Ivorians, on the other hand, started their campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Niger, before narrowly losing 3-2 to Nigeria.

Their resilience has been evident, and they’ll be determined to pull off an upset against the tournament hosts.

Ghana’s Head Coach, Nana Joe Adarkwa, has a squad brimming with talent at his disposal. The team will look to Ashiaku, who has been in scintillating form, to lead the attack, while the experience of captain Abesik Latifa and the steady hands of goalkeeper Awinimi Ayishatu Fatao will be key.

Other players who have been crucial to Ghana’s success so far, including Gertrude Amoafo, Essenam Serafina, Osman Rafia, Mohammed Malititi, Gyekeywaa Juliana, Victoria Banful, Priscilla Mensah and Pomaa Patience, will also be pivotal in the battle for a spot in the final.

In the other semi-final, Nigeria’s Flamingos will take on Benin. The Nigerian side finished top of Group B with six points and an impressive 12 goals, while Benin will look to build on their resilience after securing a place in the last four.

Nigeria’s Harmony Chidi has been a standout performer, netting a hat-trick in their 3-2 win over Côte d'Ivoire, and will be a player to watch in their semi-final clash.