2017 WAFU Cup of Nations

Last updated
2017 WAFU Cup of Nations
2017 WAFU Nations Cup.png
Tournament details
Host countryGhana
Dates9–24 September 2017
Teams16 (from 1 sub-confederation)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (2nd title)
Runners-upFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Third placeFlag of Niger.svg  Niger
Fourth placeFlag of Benin.svg  Benin
Tournament statistics
Matches played24
Goals scored44 (1.83 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Ghana.svg Stephen Sarfo
Flag of Niger.svg Victorien Adebayor
(3 goals each)
Best player(s) Flag of Ghana.svg Isaac Twum
Best goalkeeper Flag of Nigeria.svg Ikechukwu Ezenwa
2013
2019

The 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations (also referred to as Ghana 2017) was an association football tournament that took place in September 2017 in Ghana.

Contents

Sixteen teams from West Africa participated. The tournament was the first featuring national teams to be arranged by Fox Sports as part of a twelve year partnership between the broadcaster and the West Africa national football associations union. [1] [2]

Originally, one of the two host cities was set to be Sekondi-Takoradi however the local organising committee changed it to Elmina due to "structural defects at the Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium and the danger it could pose to fans during the tournament". [3]

Participants

Squads

Draw

The draw was held on 27 July at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra. [4] Teams were ranked using the June 2017 FIFA Rankings. Ghana were given the highest ranking due to being competition hosts. [5]

The four highest ranked national teams from WAFU Zones A and B were seeded meaning they could not be drawn against each other.

Matches

First round

Zone A

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg1–0Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
  • Antigah Soccerball shade.svg90+9' (pen.)
Report
Referee: Boukari Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)

Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg2–1Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau
Report
Referee: Kouassi Fredéric Biro (Ivory Coast)

Mali  Flag of Mali.svg3–1Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania
Report
Referee: Daouda Gueye (Senegal)

Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svg2–0Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Report
Referee: Yanissou Bebou (Togo)

Zone B

Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg0–0Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia
Report
Penalties
5–4

Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg1–2Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Referee: Daniel Laryea (Ghana)

Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg0–0Flag of Togo.svg  Togo
Report
Penalties
4–3

Benin  Flag of Benin.svg2–0Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde
Report

Second round

Group 1

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana (H)320132+16Advance to semi-finals
2Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 312020+25
3Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 30211212
4Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 30211322
Source: WAFU
(H) Hosts
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Referee: Kouassi Fredéric Biro (Ivory Coast)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg2–0Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report
Referee: Yanissou Bebou (Togo)

Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Referee: Daouda Gueye (Senegal)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg1–0Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report

Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg1–1Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Referee: Boukari Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg0–2Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Referee: Kouassi Fredéric Biro (Ivory Coast)

Group 2

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 32013526Advance to semi-finals
2Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 31113304
3Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 311152+34
4Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 30210112
Source: WAFU
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg1–2Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Referee: Boukari Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg0–1Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Referee: Daniel Laryea (Ghana)

Niger  Flag of Niger.svg0–0Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg4–0Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Referee: Cecil Fleischer (Ghana)

Niger  Flag of Niger.svg1–2Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Referee: Daniel Laryea (Ghana)
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg0–0Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Report
Referee: Cecil Fleischer (Ghana)

Knockout stage

Semi-finals

Benin  Flag of Benin.svg0–1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg2–0Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast
Referee: Yanissou Bebou (Togo)

Third-place playoff

Niger  Flag of Niger.svg2–1Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast
Referee: Boukari Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso)

Final

Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svg4–1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast
Referee: Daouda Gueye (Senegal) [6]

Goalscorers

3 goals
2 goals
1 goal

Awards

Player of the tournament

Golden boot

Golden Glove

Best XI

The team of the tournament was announced on 27 September 2017. [8]

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsSubstitutions
Flag of Nigeria.svg Ikechukwu Ezenwa Flag of Ghana.svg Thomas Abbey
Flag of Guinea.svg Conde Aminata
Flag of Senegal.svg Ablaye Diene
Flag of Nigeria.svg Osas Okoro
Flag of Niger.svg Adebayor Zakari Adje
Flag of Nigeria.svg Afeez Aremu
Flag of Benin.svg Charbel Gomez
Flag of Ghana.svg Isaac Twum
Flag of Ghana.svg Winful Cobbinah
Flag of Ghana.svg Stephen Sarfo
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Hortalien Ble Zadi (GK)
Flag of Nigeria.svg Chima Akas
Flag of Guinea.svg Abdoulaye Camara
Flag of Niger.svg Boubacar Haini
Flag of Nigeria.svg Adeleye Olamikelan
Flag of Niger.svg Souleymane Sakou
Flag of Niger.svg Daouda Yussif

Prize money

The prize was awarded in form of US dollars: [9]

PositionPrize money (US Dollars)
Winner100,000
Runner-up50,000
Third place25,000
Fourth place10,000
Four losing semi-finalists10,000
Four second round finishers5,000

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References

  1. Brookes, Nicholas (12 December 2016). "Media giant announces long-term partnership to improve West African soccer's infrastructure". SportsProMedia.com.
  2. "Goal, Fox Sports sign media partnership for WAFU Cup". SportBusiness Media. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  3. WAFU CUP OF NATIONS (4 September 2017). "Tweet Number 904613256286932992". Twitter . Retrieved 4 September 2017. The LOC replaced Takoradi because of structural defects at the stadium and the danger it could pose to fans during the tournament. #WAFU2017
  4. "Ghana 2017 FoX Sports WAFU Cup of nations draw - Ghanaguardian.com". Ghanaguardian.com. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Ranking Table". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. "FIFA Referees News: 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations - Final". 24 September 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 "WAFU Cup: Ezenwa Named Best Goalkeeper As Ghana Stars Sweep Awards". Complete Sports . 24 September 2017.
  8. "Three Nigerians, Four Ghanaians Make WAFU Cup Best XI". Complete Sports . 27 September 2017.
  9. "REVEALED: $100,000 prize money for Wafu Tournament winner". Starr Sports. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.