Ghana’s U-17 women’s national team, the Black Maidens, have intensified preparations ahead of their first-round fixture against Togo in the qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The two-legged tie is scheduled to take place between April 10–12 for the first leg and April 17–19 for the return encounter, as Ghana begin their journey toward securing a place at the global tournament. The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is set to be staged in Morocco from October to November 2026.
As part of preparations, the Black Maidens recorded an emphatic 4-0 victory in a friendly match against Division One side Rootz Sistaz on Wednesday, February 18. One of the standout performers on the day was Cabfix Ladies goalkeeper Belinda Maku Aklie, who kept a clean sheet after playing the entire 90 minutes, demonstrating composure, confidence, and strong command of her area.
Belinda’s inclusion in camp comes on the back of a series of impressive performances at club level. The shot-stopper has been outstanding in the Women’s FA Cup, notably keeping a clean sheet against Oaks FC, the women’s side of Accra Hearts of Oak SC, who compete in the Women’s Premier League. She also produced remarkable saves against top-flight side Jonina Ladies in the FA Cup Round of 32, earning praise for her reflexes and positioning under pressure.
At the grassroots level, Belinda is equally making her mark. She is currently featuring in the FIFA U15 Girls Regional Colts League, where she has already kept one clean sheet in two matches, underlining her consistency across competitions.
Her steady rise reflects both her dedication and the strong developmental structure at Cabfix Ladies, who continue to produce talents capable of competing at national level.
With the Black Maidens aiming for another successful qualification campaign, Belinda’s form presents a timely boost for the technical team.
As Ghana prepare to face Togo in April, the Black Maidens will be counting on discipline, teamwork, and standout individual performances to secure progression to the next stage. For Belinda Maku Aklie, the upcoming qualifiers represent another opportunity to prove her growing reputation as one of the country’s promising young goalkeepers.
