Black Starlets captain Issah Abdul Rafiu has warned his teammates against complacency as Ghana prepare to face hosts Burkina Faso in their final Group A match at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou.
Ghana have already secured a place in the semi-finals after winning their opening two matches but remain determined to maintain their momentum and finish the group stage on a positive note.
The Black Starlets began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Togo before recording a 3-1 win against Benin to confirm their qualification for the knockout stage.
Despite achieving their immediate objective, Issah insists the team will approach the Burkina Faso encounter with the same determination, stressing the importance of maintaining concentration throughout the game.
“Despite the fact that we have already qualified for the semi-final, we aren’t going to relax. We (the players) are focused,” the captain said.
He acknowledged that Ghana lost concentration at certain moments during their victory over Benin but said the players had discussed the shortcomings and were ready to address them before facing the hosts.
“Just like our coach said, we lost concentration against Benin but as players we have spoken amongst ourselves and we’ll correct our mistakes,” he added.
The final group fixture will also provide Ghana with an opportunity to build confidence ahead of the semi-finals as they pursue the ultimate prize at the tournament, which serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
