The hosts are through to the final stages in the WAFU-Zone B region of 2023 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations qualifying after Ghana comfortably defeated Togo 3-0 in the last game of Group B play. Second half goals from Pius Adua, Abdul Salifu and captain Collins Agyemang helped the Black Starlets to their first victory of the competition and to second place in Group B behind undefeated Nigeria. A win in the semifinals will send Ghana through to the AFCON U-17 finals in Algeria.
Ghana controlled the match and were unlucky to not have the lead by halftime. A couple of opportunities towards the end of the half arrived for the Black Starlets but Adua failed to deliver a clinical final ball and then Yakubu Adams had a shot from outside the penalty area well tipped away by Togo goalkeeper Kiti Komian Ignace.
The dominance continued into the second half and Ghana took the lead before ten minutes were up. Andrews Appiah played a combination with Salifu to get free down the right wing and his cross found Adua for an easy finish from close range. Salifu found his goal in the 78th minute when he broke out in transition and was isolated with a Togolese defender, cutting inside before driving his shot past Kiti. A few minutes later it was Agyemang who drove in on goal from the right wing and had his cross blocked by the hand of a defender for a penalty kick with the captain dispatching his spot kick to complete the victory.
Highlights are below.
