Ivory Coast U17 beat Ghana 1-0 in Ouagadougou on Wednesday 21 October, thanks to a goal from centre-back Alex Fousseni Bamba. The win qualifies the Little Elephants for the Morocco 2027 U17 AFCON and for the final of the UFOA B tournament.
A centre-back stepping up to deliver his side. Ivory Coast U17 beat Ghana 1-0 at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou in the semi-final of the UFOA West B zone tournament, Foot-Africa.com reports. The only goal of the game came from Alex Fousseni Bamba, wearing the number 5 shirt.
The qualifying goal came from a forward run by the defender, set up by his team-mate Landry Bazongo, who provided the assist, according to the same source. The win confirms Ivory Coast’s qualification for the Morocco 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bamba, scorer and man of the match
So it was from the heart of defence that the Ivorians found the back of the net. Alex Fousseni Bamba finished off a forward run from his defensive position to score the only goal of the game. The move was launched by Landry Bazongo, whose pass allowed the Ivorian number 5 to score.
His performance earned him the man of the match trophy, awarded after the game by CAF West B Zone. Head coach Serge Bougouyou saw his side win without Ghana finding the back of the net.
Two draws before the breakthrough
The West B zone tournament has been under way in Burkina Faso since 10 October 2026. The Little Elephants’ campaign there had begun less smoothly, however: in the group stage they recorded two 1-1 draws, against Niger and then Nigeria, according to Foot-Africa.com.
The win over Ghana is part of a run of three consecutive qualifications by Ivory Coast for the UFOA B U17 tournament final, again according to Foot-Africa.com. At the previous edition, the Ivorians had already got the better of Ghana in the final: 0-0 after normal time, then 5-4 on penalties.
Niger the last hurdle
The final is scheduled for Friday 23 October 2026 in Ouagadougou. Ivory Coast will defend their title there against Niger, whom they already met in the group stage.
The final will precede the finals of the Morocco 2027 U17 AFCON, for which Ivory Coast are now qualified. Beyond the trophy, it will decide the winner of the West B zone against a Nigerien side already faced in the group.