Nigeria’s fellow English-speaking West African neighbour, Ghana, has joined their eternal rivals in lamentations over another FIFA U17 World Cup absence, due to the dwindling form of their cadet team, Black Starlets.
Sports247 reports that, in an uncanny shift from the famous ‘jollof rivalry’ between both countries, Ghana and Nigeria now share the same ignominious absence from the continental and global spotlight of under-17 football.
This follows the inability of both teams to advance from the ongoing West African Football Union (WAFU)-B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where Nigeria failed to reach the semi-finals, and Ghana could not make the final.
Dramatically, Côte d’Ivoire spelt doom for both anglophone countries, as the French-speaking Ivorians’ 1-1 draw with Nigeria on Saturday knocked out the record five-time FIFA U17 World Cup winners, and their 1-0 win over Ghana on Tuesday also stopped the two-time global champs.
While Nigeria last qualified for the Cadet Mundial in 2019, Ghana’s absence dates back to 2017 – meaning they will be out of the contest for the tenth year running, which belies their conquests of 1991 and 1995, plus a runners-up spot behind Nigeria in the competition’s first all-Africa final at Japan ’93.
A report by Tribal Football added in part: “Ghana’s Black Starlets have missed out on qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship.
“Their defeat at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ends Ghana’s hopes of reaching next year’s continental tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco.
“Ghana’s task became more difficult in the 18th minute when Daniel Owusu was sent off, leaving the Black Starlets to play the majority of the contest with 10 men (though) Kassim Ocansey’s side managed to keep the Ivorians at bay for much of the encounter.
“The defeat is a disappointing end to Ghana’s campaign after an encouraging group-stage performance in which they finished top of Group A with seven points from three matches.
“The Black Starlets began the competition with a 1-0 victory over Togo before beating Benin 3-1, with Alidu Issah scoring twice. They then drew 0-0 with hosts Burkina Faso to complete the group stage unbeaten.
“The setback extends Ghana’s wait for a return to the FIFA U17 World Cup. The Black Starlets last featured at the tournament in 2017, meaning their absence from the 2027 U17 AFCON leaves them without the next edition of the global competition.
“Ghana, two-time winners of the FIFA U17 World Cup in 1991 and 1995, will now have to wait for another qualifying cycle to end their prolonged absence from the global stage.”
