Black Starlets captain Abdul Rafiu Issah says the team is determined to make themselves and their technical team proud as Ghana get set to face Togo in their opening game at the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Friday, the inspirational left-back expressed confidence in the team’s preparations, insisting that the players have benefited greatly from the guidance and instructions of their coaches ahead of the competition.

“We’re here to make ourselves and our coaches proud. We have had good preparations, and the coaches have taught us a lot. We believe in what they have taught us, and we are ready to go out there and give our best against Togo,” Issah said.

The Black Starlets will take on Togo on Saturday, October 10, at the August 4 Sports Stadium in Ouagadougou, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 GMT.

Issah believes the positive atmosphere within the camp and the lessons learned during preparations will be important as the team begins its campaign. The captain is expected to play a key leadership role as Ghana seek to make a strong start to the tournament.

The Black Starlets head into the competition with valuable experience from last year’s WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire, where they finished as runners-up. Their impressive run also secured Ghana qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Starlets will be eager to turn their preparations into a strong performance and begin their quest for regional honours on a positive note.

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