Assistant coach of the Black Starlets, Mohammed Hamza, says the team is fully focused on securing qualification to the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship ahead of their crucial Group A encounter against Benin on Tuesday.

Hamza addressed the media on Monday as the Ghanaian side intensified preparations for the decisive fixture in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with a victory set to guarantee the Black Starlets a place in the last four.

The assistant coach acknowledged the quality of their opponents but insisted that Ghana’s primary objective remains securing qualification to the semi-finals.

“We know Benin is a very good side and they are young just like us. We respect them but we are focused on securing qualification to the semi-finals so we just have to give our all for the game on Tuesday,” Mohammed said.

Ghana head into the encounter with renewed confidence following their 1-0 victory over Togo in their opening match of the competition and Hamza believes the result has provided a significant boost to the team's morale, while also recognising the responsibility that comes with being among the early winners in the tournament.

“Winning the first game has really boosted our confidence. So far we are the only side with a win in the tournament and that comes with its own demands,” he added.

Despite the positive start, Hamza admitted that the team must improve their finishing after failing to convert several scoring opportunities against Togo. The technical team has subsequently worked on that aspect of their game ahead of the Benin clash.

“We created so many chances against Togo but scored only one. We have worked on that and In Sha Allah we’ll improve against Benin,” he stated.

The Black Starlets will be determined to translate their preparations into another positive result on Tuesday, with a win guaranteeing their progression to the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship as they continue their quest for continental qualification.

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