Ghana’s U15 Girls narrowly missed out on defending their WAFU B title after a 1–0 defeat to hosts Burkina Faso in the final of the CAF African Schools Championship Zonal qualifiers at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou.

The match was decided by a highly controversial penalty awarded to Burkina Faso in the second half, a decision that sparked frustration among the Ghanaian players and technical team.

The young Ghanaian side showed admirable composure, dominating possession and pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Burkina Faso, however, held firm with disciplined defending, managing to protect their narrow lead until the final whistle.

The defeat was Ghana’s first concession of the entire tournament, having scored an impressive 15 goals en route to the final. Their campaign had been marked by attacking fluidity, tactical maturity and standout individual performances, making the loss, under contentious circumstance, even more difficult to swallow.

Nevertheless, the Damsels leave Ouagadougou with their heads held high. As defending champions, they have secured qualification to the continental finals of the CAF African Schools Championship, where they will once again represent the WAFU B zone. Burkina Faso will join them as co-representatives following their triumph on home soil.

The CAF African Schools Championship, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), continues to serve as a flagship initiative aimed at nurturing grassroots football and providing a platform for emerging talents across the continent.

The WAFU B zone — home to regional powerhouses such as Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso, remains one of Africa’s most competitive environments for youth development.