Head coach of Ghana’s U-17 national team, Prosper Ogum, has revealed that the long-standing football rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria served as an added source of motivation for his side in their semi-final clash at the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship.
The Black Starlets secured an emphatic 2–0 victory over the Golden Eaglets on Tuesday evening, a result that not only sealed their place in the tournament’s final but also guaranteed them qualification for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Ogum praised the determination and fighting spirit of his players, noting that the historic rivalry between the two West African powerhouses pushed them to rise to the occasion in front of an electrifying atmosphere.
“This is more than just football — it’s pride, history, and national identity. The boys knew what this meant, and they delivered when it mattered most,” Ogum remarked after the match.
The Ghana–Nigeria football rivalry is widely regarded as one of Africa’s fiercest, spanning decades at both senior and youth levels. Matches between the two nations are often characterised by high intensity, passion, and national pride, with fans on both sides treating victories as more than just sporting achievements. From the iconic Black Stars–Super Eagles duels to youth tournaments like this, encounters between the two nations continue to capture continental attention.
With the win, the Black Starlets will now turn their attention to the final, where they will be hoping to lift the WAFU B trophy and further boost their confidence ahead of next year’s continental showpiece.
The victory also underlines Ghana’s resurgence at youth level, as the team continues its quest to reclaim its once-dominant status in African and world football.
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