Philippe Tchere welcomes transparent WAFU B U-17 AFCON draw

WAFU Zone B Executive Director Philippe Tchere has welcomed the transparent draw for the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tournament. Ghana were placed in the same group as hosts Burkina Faso, with the competition set to begin on 10 October in Ouagadougou.

The draw took place in the Burkina Faso capital on Thursday. Group A will contain Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, while Group B features Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Nigeria.

Tchere said the allocation was conducted in a manner that allowed all participating countries to follow the process clearly. He also expects the close ties between the West African nations to increase the competitiveness of the tournament.

The teams are due back in Ouagadougou next month as preparations move towards the qualifiers. The competition will decide which countries represent WAFU Zone B at the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The regional girls’ championship has also had its groups confirmed. Ghana will meet Nigeria, Togo and Niger in Group B when that tournament begins in Côte d’Ivoire on 15 September. Hosts Côte d’Ivoire are in Group A with Burkina Faso and Benin.

Both competitions will provide a route to the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, giving the region’s young teams a place to compete for qualification. The boys’ draw has already created a notable meeting between Ghana and the host nation, while the girls’ section includes a Ghana-Nigeria contest.