Black Starlets head coach Kassim Ocansey has described Ghana’s 1-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship as painful, insisting his side could have won the match before being reduced to 10 men.

Ghana’s hopes of reaching the final and securing qualification for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) were dashed by the narrow defeat at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The Black Starlets were forced to play with 10 men from the 17th minute after Daniel Owusu was sent off, leaving Ocansey’s side with an uphill task against their Ivorian counterparts.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ghana held Ivory Coast at bay in the first half and continued to create opportunities after the break.

However, the Young Elephants eventually broke the deadlock in the 76th minute when Alex Fousseni Bamba scored from close range to send Ivory Coast through to the final.

Speaking after the match, Ocansey expressed his disappointment, arguing that Ghana had been in control before the dismissal and had created enough chances to secure a positive result.

“It was a game we could have won. It was a game we were controlling until the red card on the 17th minute. Even after that, we created some good chances but missed them. And considering the time Ivory Coast scored, it’s really painful,” he said.

The defeat brings Ghana’s campaign to an end and leaves the Black Starlets without a place at the 2027 U17 AFCON in Morocco.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, have advanced to the final of the WAFU Zone B competition and secured qualification for the continental tournament.