Ghana’s U-17 team, the Black Starlets, kicked off their 2024 WAFU Zone B tournament campaign in dominant fashion, securing a commanding 5-1 victory over Cote D’Ivoire in their opening match.
📝 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: Black Starlets Squad to Face Côte d'Ivoire!
🇬🇭 🆚 🇨🇮#BlackStarlets | #QAFCONU17 | #ZONEOUESTB | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/hq1wdubUtt
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) May 15, 2024
The Starlets set the tone early in the game, with Joseph Narbi breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute. A superb display of teamwork saw Ayamga and Sarpong combine beautifully to assist Narbi, who finished with aplomb.
Narbi continued to shine, doubling Ghana’s lead just before the halftime break. His powerful strike in the 42nd minute left the Ivorian goalkeeper with no chance, putting the Starlets firmly in control at the interval.
The second half started with Ghana maintaining their momentum. Just three minutes after the restart, Godfred Sarpong found the back of the net, making it 3-0 in the 48th minute.
Cote D’Ivoire managed to respond quickly, pulling one back in the 50th minute. However, their hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Harve Gbafa restored Ghana’s three-goal cushion with a goal in the 53rd minute, making it 4-1.
The icing on the cake came in additional time when Mark Kagawa Mensah scored a stunning curling shot, sealing a comprehensive 5-1 victory for the Black Starlets.
⏰ 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 – #BlackStarlets triumph over Côte d'Ivoire with a convincing 5-1 win in the opening match of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations WAFU Zone B Qualifiers!
🇬🇭 Ghana 5️⃣-1️⃣ Côte d'Ivoire 🇨🇮#BlackStarlets | #QAFCONU17 | #ZONEOUESTB | #BringBackTheLove pic.twitter.com/vrqG6VUECI
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) May 15, 2024
With this emphatic win, Ghana looks ahead to their next Group A encounter against Benin, scheduled for May 21, 2024, at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
