Ghana’s return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup presents an opportunity for a new generation of Black Maidens to announce themselves on the global stage, with several players arriving in Morocco having already demonstrated their quality during the African qualifiers and the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup.

Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa’s 21-player squad combines players who played key roles in Ghana’s qualification campaign with young talents who impressed at the regional level. While the Black Maidens will need collective effort to navigate a challenging Group C featuring Norway, Brazil and Canada, a number of individuals could prove particularly influential.

Here are six players to watch as Ghana begin their campaign in Morocco.

Seidatu Wahab — Oak Ladies

The Black Maidens captain will be one of Ghana’s key players to watch, having demonstrated her ability to influence matches with goals from different situations.

Wahab scored four goals during the World Cup qualifiers, including a free-kick against Liberia away and a goal in the decisive second leg against Senegal. She also scored in Ghana’s 6-0 victories over Togo and Liberia respectively at home.

Her form continued at the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, where she scored five goals to finish among the tournament’s leading scorers. She also scored from the penalty spot in Ghana’s recent 2-1 friendly victory over Kenya, giving her another goal ahead of the World Cup.

Wahab’s ability to score from distance, take free-kicks and convert penalties gives Ghana an added attacking threat. As captain, she will also be expected to lead the team through what promises to be a demanding group stage.

Jessica Appiah Asamoah — Epiphany Warriors

Jessica Appiah Asamoah offers Ghana pace, direct running and attacking unpredictability from the wings.

The winger was influential throughout the qualifiers, assisting Priscilla Mensah’s opening goal in Ghana’s 2-0 victory over Togo before registering two assists in the emphatic 6-0 win over the same opponents in the return fixture.

She also found the net in Ghana’s 6-0 victory over Liberia, contributing to a qualifying campaign in which she demonstrated both her ability to create chances and her threat in front of goal.

Jessica’s ability to take on defenders and drive into attacking areas makes her a player opposition defences will need to monitor closely. Her pace and willingness to attack one-on-one situations could give Ghana an important outlet, particularly when looking to exploit space behind opposing full-backs.

An injury kept her out of the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, meaning the World Cup will provide another opportunity for her to translate her qualifying form onto the international stage.

If she can reproduce that attacking sharpness in Morocco, Jessica could become one of Ghana’s most dangerous players.

Gloria Ameaa Adomako — Ampem Darkoa Ladies

Gloria Ameaa Adomako heads into the World Cup with an impressive regional achievement behind her, having finished as the top scorer at the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup with five goals.

The Ampem Darkoa Ladies forward demonstrated her ability to find the net consistently during the preparatory tournament, giving Ghana an encouraging attacking option ahead of the global competition.

Her scoring record makes her particularly interesting as the Black Maidens prepare to face stronger opposition in Morocco. Against Norway, Brazil and Canada, Ghana will need players capable of making the most of their opportunities, and Gloria’s performance at the WAFU B tournament suggests she could contribute in that area.

The World Cup will represent a different level of challenge, but her regional form provides a strong foundation for the forward to build on as Ghana seek to make an impression.

Priscilla Mensah — Sissamba Ladies

Priscilla Mensah has already shown that she can deliver when Ghana need goals.

She was particularly influential in the opening round of the qualifiers against Togo, scoring both goals in Ghana’s 2-0 away victory. She found the net again in the 6-0 home win over Togo and added another goal in the corresponding victory over Liberia.

Her contributions made her one of Ghana’s notable attacking performers during the qualification campaign.
Priscilla’s ability to convert chances and deliver in important matches will be valuable as the Black Maidens take on higher-ranked opposition in Morocco.

She was unavailable for the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup because she was part of Ghana’s squad for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. That experience of being involved with an older national team group adds another dimension to her story ahead of the U-17 tournament.

With Ghana needing goals to progress from Group C, Priscilla will be among the forwards expected to make their opportunities count.

Christiana Ashiaku — Rootz Sistaz

Christiana Ashiaku is another name to watch, particularly because of her achievements at youth level and her ability to contribute in attacking areas.

At the 2024 WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, Ashiaku won the Golden Boot after scoring six goals in four matches, including hat-tricks against Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, as Ghana claimed the title.

She has since added another major achievement to her record, captaining Ghana’s Black Damsels to retain the CAF African Schools Football Championship title in Zimbabwe in 2026. The team defeated Burkina Faso in a dramatic 10-9 penalty shoot-out, with Ashiaku earning the tournament’s Best Player award for her performances and leadership.

Alongside Belinda Kpentey and Mavis Koah, Ashiaku was part of the Black Damsels squad that triumphed in Zimbabwe. The trio did not feature in the Black Maidens’ World Cup qualifying campaign or the WAFU B preparatory tournament, making their inclusion in the final squad an additional storyline.

Ashiaku’s previous Golden Boot achievement and Best Player recognition underline her attacking quality and leadership potential. The World Cup will offer her a new test as she steps into a tournament featuring some of the best young players from across the world.

Belinda Maku Aklie — Cabfix Ladies

A strong attack can win matches, but a dependable goalkeeper can be just as important in a tournament of this magnitude. Belinda Maku Aklie will be central to Ghana’s hopes of progressing from the group stage.

The Cabfix Ladies goalkeeper started all six of Ghana’s World Cup qualifying matches and recorded four clean sheets. Her consistency helped the Black Maidens negotiate the qualifying rounds, including the decisive tie against Senegal, which Ghana won on penalties.

Belinda has also made the step up to Ghana’s U-20 side, the Black Princesses. She made her debut in the two-legged World Cup qualifier against Uganda and helped the team secure qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

At the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup, she started against Côte d’Ivoire and kept a clean sheet in Ghana’s 4-0 victory.

With Norway, Brazil and Canada expected to test Ghana defensively, Belinda’s shot-stopping and composure could prove crucial.

A collective challenge in Morocco

While these six players offer compelling individual storylines, Ghana’s success will ultimately depend on how effectively the entire squad performs as a unit.

Juliana Gyekyewaa and Zeinab Shani also made important contributions during the qualifiers, while Sekinatu Amadu scored in Ghana’s 6-0 victory over Togo. Their attacking contributions provide further options for Adarkwa as he seeks to build a balanced side capable of competing at the highest level.

The presence of four Rootz Sistaz players in the final squad is another notable feature, with Ashiaku, Belinda Kpentey, Mavis Koah and Gyekyewaa representing the club. Ashiaku, Kpentey and Koah also arrive with the experience of winning the 2026 CAF African Schools Football Championship with the Black Damsels.

Ghana’s immediate focus, however, will be on their opening Group C encounter against Norway on October 18 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat. They will then face Brazil on October 21 before concluding the group stage against Canada on October 24.

The Black Maidens have a proud history at the competition, highlighted by their bronze-medal finish in 2012 and three quarter-final appearances. After missing the previous three editions, their return provides a fresh opportunity to build on that legacy.

For Wahab, Jessica, Gloria, Priscilla, Ashiaku and Belinda, Morocco offers a chance to turn impressive performances at regional and qualifying level into memorable moments on the world stage.

Seidatu Wahab

Jessica Appiah Asamoah

Gloria Adomako Ameaa

Priscilla Mensah

Christiana Ashiaku

Belinda Maku Aklie

Ghana’s Black Maidens will begin their seventh FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign against Norway on Sunday, October 18, as they return to the global stage for the first time since 2018, carrying the weight of an impressive history and the ambition to make up for years of absence.

Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has guided the team through qualification for the 2026 edition in Morocco, overcoming Togo, Liberia and Senegal to secure Ghana’s place among the world’s best young women’s teams. Their opening Group C fixture against Norway will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, where all three of Ghana’s group-stage matches are scheduled to take place.

Ghana will subsequently face Brazil on October 21 before concluding the group stage against Canada on October 24. The challenge is significant, but the Black Maidens will draw encouragement from a history that includes a bronze medal and three quarter-final appearances.

Their return also presents an opportunity to rebuild Ghana’s reputation at a competition where the country has previously demonstrated its ability to compete with some of the strongest teams in women’s youth football.

A journey that began in 2008

Ghana made its debut at the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2008 under head coach Abraham Allotey.

The Black Maidens collected four points from three group matches but failed to advance to the knockout stage. They opened with a 1-1 draw against North Korea before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to Germany.

A 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in their final group game was not enough to secure qualification for the next round, bringing their maiden campaign to an early end.

Despite the disappointment, the tournament marked Ghana’s entry into the emerging global competition and laid the foundation for future appearances.

2010: Another group-stage disappointment

Ghana returned for the 2010 edition in Trinidad and Tobago, hoping to improve on their debut performance. However, the team endured another difficult campaign, finishing the group stage with three points.

The Black Maidens lost their opening match to Canada but responded with a victory over Brazil to revive their hopes of progressing.

Those hopes were eventually ended by defeat against the Republic of Ireland, leaving Ghana unable to reach the knockout stage for a second consecutive tournament.

The early exits would soon give way to a far more memorable chapter in the country’s history.

2012: Ghana’s historic bronze-medal finish

The 2012 tournament in Azerbaijan remains a landmark in the Black Maidens’ World Cup history.

Under Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, Ghana recovered from an opening defeat to Germany by recording victories over Uruguay and China to advance from the group stage.

Their progress continued in the quarter-finals, where Sherifatu Sumaila scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Japan, sending Ghana into the last four.

The Black Maidens subsequently lost to France in the semi-finals, missing out on a place in the final. They responded impressively in the third-place play-off, defeating Germany to claim the bronze medal.

The achievement remains Ghana’s best finish at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and established the team among the competition’s notable performers.

2014: A quarter-final exit on penalties

Ghana carried their growing reputation into the 2014 edition in Costa Rica, with Evans Adotey taking charge of the team.

For the first time in their World Cup history, the Black Maidens finished top of their group. They opened with a 2-0 victory over Germany before beating North Korea 1-0 to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

A 2-1 defeat to Canada in their final group match did not prevent Ghana from progressing as group winners.

Their quarter-final encounter against Italy proved a much tighter contest, with neither side able to settle the tie in regulation time. The match went to a penalty shoot-out, where Italy prevailed to end Ghana’s campaign.

Although the Black Maidens fell short of another semi-final appearance, topping their group represented a significant achievement.

2016: North Korea ends Ghana’s run

Adotey retained his position for the 2016 tournament in Jordan, where Ghana again advanced beyond the group stage.

The campaign began with a heavy 5-0 defeat to Japan, but the Black Maidens recovered with victories over the United States and Paraguay, winning 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Those results secured a quarter-final place, setting up a meeting with North Korea.

Ghana’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals were dashed by a 2-1 defeat, marking their second consecutive quarter-final exit.

Nevertheless, the team had established a pattern of progressing from the group stage, reinforcing their standing as a competitive force at the youth level.

2018: Mukarama Abdulai leads Ghana’s golden run

The 2018 edition in Uruguay produced one of the most memorable individual performances in the history of the competition, with Mukarama Abdulai emerging as the tournament’s leading scorer.

Under head coach Evans Adotey’s successor, Bashir Hayford, Ghana delivered a flawless group-stage campaign, winning all three matches to collect nine points.

Mukarama scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 victory over Uruguay before finding the net again in a 3-1 win against Finland. She then scored twice in Ghana’s 2-0 triumph over New Zealand, completing a remarkable group-stage performance.

The Black Maidens entered the quarter-finals full of confidence but were held by Mexico in a contest that went into extra time and eventually a penalty shoot-out. Ghana lost the shoot-out, bringing their campaign to an end despite their impressive performances in the group stage.

Mukarama finished as the tournament’s top scorer, becoming the first African player to achieve the feat at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Her exploits remain a major highlight of Ghana’s history at the competition.

The quarter-final defeat was particularly painful because Ghana had won every group match and appeared capable of making another deep run.

The years away from the global stage

Since their last appearance in 2018, the Black Maidens have endured a lengthy absence from the competition.

Ghana failed to qualify for the 2022 edition after losing to Morocco on penalties. The country subsequently faced disciplinary sanctions relating to age falsification, contributing to its absence from the following editions.

The prolonged gap has meant that a new generation of players will have to carry forward the legacy established by the teams of 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

For Adarkwa and his squad, qualification for Morocco 2026 is therefore more than a return to competition. It is an opportunity to re-establish Ghana on the global stage and create a new chapter in the Black Maidens’ history.

Adarkwa faces a defining challenge in Morocco

Adarkwa secured Ghana’s qualification after a successful run through the African qualifiers, navigating ties against Togo, Liberia and Senegal to book the team’s place at the tournament.

Now, with Norway, Brazil and Canada standing between Ghana and a place in the knockout stage, the head coach faces the task of translating that qualification success into performances against international opposition.

The Black Maidens’ preparations in Morocco included friendly matches against China and Kenya. After losing 3-0 to China, Ghana responded with a 2-1 comeback victory over Kenya, with captain Sadiatu Wahab converting a penalty before Priscilla Mensah scored the winner.

The result offered encouragement ahead of the tournament, although the challenges awaiting Ghana in Group C will demand consistency, defensive discipline and clinical finishing.

Ghana’s Group C fixtures

Sunday, October 18: Ghana vs Norway — 18:00 GMT
Wednesday, October 21: Ghana vs Brazil — 18:00 GMT
Saturday, October 24: Ghana vs Canada — 15:00 GMT

All three matches will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.

Ghana’s record at the tournament provides both inspiration and expectation. The bronze medal of 2012 remains the high point, while the quarter-final runs of 2014, 2016 and 2018 demonstrate the team’s ability to advance beyond the group stage.

As the Black Maidens prepare to face Norway in their opening fixture, the immediate objective will be to start strongly and put themselves in a favourable position to progress.

After years away from the global stage, the 2026 tournament offers Ghana a chance to turn its proud history into a fresh achievement — and to remind the world that the Black Maidens remain a team to watch in women’s youth football.

Ghana’s Black Maidens have arrived in Rabat ahead of their campaign at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, bringing their two-week preparations in Casablanca to a close as head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa prepares to lead his final 21-player squad into the global competition.

The team moved to the Moroccan capital after a training camp in Casablanca, where they fine-tuned their preparations with international friendly matches against China and Kenya. Their final warm-up fixture saw Ghana fight back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Kenya, with captain Sadiatu Wahab converting a penalty before Priscilla Mensah headed home the winner.

That comeback provides a timely confidence boost for a side returning to the tournament after missing the previous edition, with hopes of making another strong impression on the world stage.

Adarkwa’s squad features players drawn from clubs across Ghana, with a blend of goalkeeping options, defensive depth, midfield creativity and attacking talent tasked with navigating a demanding Group C.

Black Maidens’ Final 21-Player Squad

Goalkeepers

Belinda Maku Aklie — Cabfix Ladies
Rahima Abubakari Napari — Northern City Ladies
Josephine Nyanfule — Fosu Royals Ladies

Defenders

Matilda Abu Bonsra Amoah — Arm of God Ladies
Hajara Adam — Tamale Super Ladies
Latifa Musah — Sissamba Ladies
Mavis Koah — Rootz Sistaz
Rafia Osman — Tamale Super Ladies
Juliana Gyekyewaa — Rootz Sistaz
Seraphina Essenam Esse — Oak Ladies

Midfielders

Belinda Kpentey — Rootz Sistaz
Christiana Ashiaku — Rootz Sistaz
Benedicta Danso Nketiah — KAC Ladies
Seidatu Wahab — Oak Ladies
Zeinab Shani — Savannah Ladies
Sekinatu Amadu — Jonina Ladies FC

Forwards

Priscilla Mensah — Sissamba Ladies
Linda Achiaa — Army Ladies
Jessica Appiah Asamoah — Epiphany Warriors
Cynthia Obinsrewuo — Police Ladies
Gloria Amea Adomako — Ampem Darkoa Ladies

Ghana will begin their Group C campaign against Norway on Sunday, October 18, before taking on Brazil on Wednesday, October 21. The Black Maidens will then conclude their group-stage fixtures against Canada on Saturday, October 24.

All three matches will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Morocco, giving Ghana a consistent venue as they seek to progress to the knockout stage.

Ghana’s Group C fixtures

October 18: Norway vs Ghana — 18:00
October 21: Ghana vs Brazil — 18:00
October 24: Ghana vs Canada — 15:00

The Black Maidens head into the tournament with a proud history at this level, highlighted by their bronze-medal finish in 2012 and three quarter-final appearances.

With their preparations complete and their final squad confirmed, Ghana will now turn their attention to the opening challenge against Norway, knowing that a positive start could prove crucial to their hopes of advancing from a competitive group. The tournament kicks off on Saturday October 17.

Ghana’s Black Maidens suffered a 3-0 defeat to China in an international friendly at the Stade Hay Moulay Rachid in Casablanca on Tuesday, October 6.

China took the lead in the first half before adding two more goals after the break to complete the victory.

The friendly formed part of Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, with the Black Maidens currently based in Morocco for an intensive training camp ahead of the tournament.

Despite the defeat, the game provided the technical team with another opportunity to assess the squad and fine-tune preparations before the global tournament.

Ghana are drawn in Group C alongside Norway, Brazil and Canada at the World Cup which is scheduled to take place from October 17 to November 7 in Morocco.