Ghanaian football administrator Patrick Akoto and Burkina Faso’s Julien Wendlassida Tiendrebeogo will play key roles in the organisation of the 2026 WAFU U-17 final between Cote d’Ivoire and Niger, scheduled for Friday, October 23, at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Akoto has been appointed Assistant General Coordinator for the highly anticipated youth showdown, which is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 m local time.

Burkina Faso’s Tiendrebeogo will serve as the General Coordinator as the tournament reaches its climax tonight.

Cote d’Ivoire and Niger booked their places in the final after overcoming Ghana and hosts Burkina Faso, respectively, in the semi-finals.

The Ivorians defeated a determined Ghanaian side, which played part of the encounter with 10 men, to secure their place in the title decider.

Niger, meanwhile, produced a major upset by defeating tournament hosts Burkina Faso 1-0 to eliminate the home side and advance to the final.

The two finalists will now battle for the regional crown in what promises to be a compelling contest between two sides eager to cap their campaigns with silverware.

Burkina Faso’s Bado Benoit has been appointed as the centre referee for the final and will be supported by a team of officials drawn from across the sub-region.

Gambia’s Sait Ngalian Ngallan and Togo’s Wassiou Tchamolla Ourotou will serve as assistant referees, while Ghanaian official Selorm Yao Bless has been named the fourth official.

Benin’s Crespin Aguidissou will serve as Referee Assessor, responsible for assessing the performance of the match officials during the decisive encounter.

The appointments complete the officiating team for a final expected to attract considerable attention, with the two finalists seeking to finish the competition on a high.