Black Starlets fall to Mali in AFCON Warm-Up despite encouraging display
Ghana’s Black Starlets ended their preparations for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mali in an international friendly.
A second-half strike from the Young Eagles proved decisive in a closely contested encounter, as both sides fine-tuned preparations ahead of the tournament in Morocco.
The match was the third and final warm-up game for coach Prosper Ogum’s team, following an impressive 4-0 victory over Ivory Coast earlier in camp.
Despite the loss, Ogum remained positive about his side’s performance, insisting the match provided the kind of challenge needed before the start of the continental competition.
“This was the type of test we needed ahead of the AFCON,” the former Asante Kotoko coach said after the game.
“Mali gave us intensity, discipline and competition at a very high level, and I’m happy with how the boys responded.”
Ghana created several scoring opportunities but failed to convert their chances, something the coach believes can still be improved before the tournament begins.
“We created enough chances to win the game, but sometimes football is like that,” he added.
“What is important for me is the way the boys approached the game, their movement, their pressing and their confidence on the ball. These are things we can build on heading into the tournament.”
Ogum also stressed that performances and preparation remain more important than results at this stage of the team’s development.
“At this stage, results are secondary to preparation. We have identified a few areas to improve, and that is exactly why these matches are important. I am convinced the team will be ready when the tournament starts,” he said.
The two-time African champions have been drawn in a difficult Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal and South Africa for the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
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