Ghana’s U-20 women’s national team, the Black Princesses, will head into the decisive second leg of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier with a narrow but crucial 2-1 advantage after a spirited comeback win over Uganda on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Princesses were forced to dig deep after Uganda’s Agnes Nabukenya handed the visitors the lead in the 32nd minute, momentarily silencing the home crowd. But Ghana returned from the break with renewed intensity, turning the tide of the game in impressive fashion.
Substitute Priscilla Mensah ignited the comeback in the 58th minute with a powerful header to restore parity, shifting momentum firmly in Ghana’s favour. Despite sustained pressure, Uganda’s goalkeeper delivered an outstanding performance, pulling off a string of saves to keep her side in contention.
The breakthrough eventually came in the 85th minute when Latifa Abesik, another substitute, finished off a brilliant move after a well-delivered pass from Jessica Appiah to secure the winner. Ghana nearly extended their lead late on, but Priscilla Mensah was twice denied by the woodwork.
The match also saw Belinda Maku Aklie make her debut for the Black Princesses, marking a significant milestone on a crucial night for the team.
Attention now shifts to the return leg scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the FUFA Stadium in Kampala, with kick-off set for 1:00 pm, where Ghana will aim to seal qualification to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland from September 5 to 27.
Uganda’s home form suggests the tie is far from decided, as they held Zambia to a 1-1 draw in their last qualifier in Kampala and earlier recorded a commanding 3-0 victory over Namibia on home soil, underlining their ability to stay competitive and dangerous in front of their fans.
However, Ghana will draw confidence from their strong away performances, having secured a 1-0 win over South Africa on the road and a convincing 2-0 victory against Tunisia away in the previous rounds.
With a place at Poland 2026 within touching distance, the Black Princesses carry the advantage, but must deliver one more disciplined performance in Kampala to complete the job and secure an eighth consecutive appearance on the global stage.
