Ghana’s U-17 national team, the Black Starlets, have been drawn into a daunting Group D at the 2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, following the official draw held at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football in Cairo, Egypt.

The Black Starlets will come up against defending champions Senegal, 2015 runners-up South Africa, and 2009 finalists Algeria in what is widely regarded as the tournament’s “Group of Death.”

Reigning champions Senegal headline Group D after their triumph in the 2023 edition, while both South Africa and Algeria bring significant tournament experience, setting up a fiercely contested battle for qualification.

Host nation Morocco has been drawn in Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Elsewhere, Group B features Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, and DR Congo, while Group C consists of Mali, Angola, Tanzania, and Mozambique.

Only the top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, intensifying the stakes for teams in highly competitive groups such as Group D.

Ghana heads into the competition with a rich pedigree, having won the continental U-17 title twice in 1995 and 1999, while also finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2017. However, the West African side will need to navigate one of the most competitive groups in the tournament to keep their hopes alive.

The tournament also serves as a qualification pathway to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The top eight teams will automatically secure qualification, while third-placed teams will compete in play-off matches to determine the final two African representatives.

The tournament is scheduled to run from May 13 to June 2, 2026, at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat

With ten African nations set to feature at the global showpiece, the Black Starlets face a stern test as they aim to advance beyond the group stage and book a return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup.