Black Starlets captain Issah Abdul Rafiu says Ghana are determined to finish the 2026 WAFU Zone B U17 Championship with a medal when they face hosts Burkina Faso in Friday’s third-place play-off.

Ghana’s hopes of reaching the final and qualifying for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco ended with a 1-0 semi-final defeat by Ivory Coast. However, Issah says the team remain focused on securing bronze and have identified the areas they need to improve before meeting Burkina Faso again.

“We’re very determined to win the bronze medal because we played with them [Burkina Faso] at the group stage which ended 0-0 but I think we can do better tomorrow [Friday].”

The two teams drew 0-0 in their final Group A match. Ghana had already secured a place in the semi-finals before that game and made seven changes to their starting line-up.

Issah believes the Black Starlets must be more forceful in the rematch, applying greater pressure and being more clinical when chances arise.

“In our first game with them, we’re more relaxed and wanted to keep the ball more but we will put more pressure on them and attack them more so we can take our chances and win the game to go home with the bronze medal.”

Ghana topped Group A with seven points after defeating Togo and Benin, before drawing with Burkina Faso. Their semi-final defeat by Ivory Coast came after defender Daniel Owusu was sent off early in the match.

That result also ended Ghana’s route to qualification for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations through the WAFU Zone B tournament.

The third-place play-off at the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou gives the Black Starlets an opportunity to close the competition with a victory and the bronze medal.