Ghana’s Black Maidens have secured qualification to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 after defeating Senegal 7-6 on penalties in a thrilling final-round qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
The tense encounter ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, the same scoreline recorded in the first leg in Dakar, forcing the qualification battle to be decided from the penalty spot.
Senegal stunned the home crowd early in the game, taking the lead in the 10th minute through a well-taken free-kick to put the visitors ahead.
Ghana responded strongly and continued to push for an equaliser before the break. Their efforts were rewarded in the 44th minute when captain Seidatu Wahab finished off a well-worked team move to restore parity and send the Accra Sports Stadium into celebration.
Neither side could find a winner after the interval, leaving the aggregate score tied at 2-2 and sending the contest into a dramatic penalty shootout.
In the shootout, both teams showed nerves and determination, but Ghana held their composure to prevail 7-6.
Senegal missed two spot kicks, with one effort going wide of the post and another crashing against the crossbar, while Ghana also missed one penalty after having an earlier kick saved.
The decisive moment came when Jessica Appiah Asamoah stepped up to convert the final penalty, sending Ghana through to their fifth FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup appearance.
The qualification marks a significant return for the Black Maidens, who were unable to participate in international competitions between 2022 and 2024 due to CAF sanctions.
Ghana’s U17 women’s team has a proud history at the global tournament, having made their debut in 2008. Their best-ever performance came in 2012 in Azerbaijan, where they won a historic bronze medal after defeating Germany 1-0 in the third-place playoff.
The Black Maidens also reached the quarter-finals in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022, continuing Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s strongest teams at youth level.
At the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, Ghana has been drawn into Group C alongside Canada, Brazil and Norway.
After a challenging qualification journey, including convincing wins over Togo (8-0 aggregate) and Liberia (8-0 aggregate) before overcoming Senegal, the Black Maidens will now turn their attention to preparing for another global campaign as they aim to make history once again. The FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 is from October 17 to November 7, 2026.
