Omanghana
Ghana national under-17 football team, popularly known as the Black Starlets, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The team touched down in the Moroccan city in the early hours of Wednesday, May 6, 2026, with a 35-member delegation made up of 21 players and 14 officials as preparations intensify for the continental competition.
The 2026 U-17 AFCON is scheduled to take place in Morocco from May 13 to June 2, 2026, marking Ghana’s return to the tournament for the first time since 2017.
This year’s edition carries added significance because it will serve as the main qualification pathway for the expanded 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, with the top 10 African teams earning qualification to the global tournament.
Ghana has been placed in a difficult Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, South Africa, and Algeria in what many analysts are calling the tournament’s “Group of Death.”
The Black Starlets will open their campaign against Algeria on May 14 at 19:00 GMT before facing Senegal on May 17 at 16:00 GMT. Their final group match will be against South Africa on May 20 at 19:00 GMT.
Head coach Prosper Nartey Ogum has selected a balanced 21-man squad featuring three goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and five forwards as Ghana seeks to revive its strong youth football tradition on the African stage.
Key players in the squad include Isaac Barfo, Mark Aboagye, and Solomon Kesse, who are expected to play crucial roles during the tournament.
Ghana remains one of Africa’s most successful nations at youth level and will be aiming to secure a return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup while competing for continental glory in Morocco.
Source: Omanghana
