The Black Maidens are back on the international stage after defeating Senegal 7-6 on penalties to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Having earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dakar, the Ghanaian side returned to the Accra Sports Stadium determined to finish the job and book their place at the global showpiece.
Senegal made the brighter start and took the lead in the early stages of the first half when a well-struck free kick beat both the Ghanaian wall and goalkeeper Belinda Maku Aklie
The setback sparked a determined response from the Black Maidens, who dominated possession in search of an equaliser. Their persistence paid off before halftime when captain Seidatu Wahab unleashed a superb long-range strike to level the score and send the home fans into celebration.
Both teams pushed relentlessly for the winning goal in the second half, but neither side could find the breakthrough as the match ended 1-1 after regulation time. With the tie level at 2-2 on aggregate, the decisive moment came in a tense penalty shootout.
In front of a passionate home crowd and officials of the Ghana Football Association, the Black Maidens held their nerve to claim a thrilling 7-6 victory on penalties, sealing Ghana’s return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Assistant Coach Bashirudeen Sumani praised the players for their determination and thanked Ghanaians for their unwavering support. “I say a big thank you to Allah for giving us this victory. I also want to thank our players. They showed strong commitment, their resilience was very high, they did well, and they remained focused on what we taught them. In the end, we got the result we wanted. I also want to say a big thank you to the whole of Ghana for supporting us from day one. Today we are happy with the result. We couldn’t finish the job in regulation time because Senegal also came well prepared for this encounter.”
He added that the technical team would strengthen the squad ahead of the tournament in Morocco.
Captain Seidatu Wahab, who inspired her side with the crucial equaliser, reflected on the historic achievement. “I wanted to make history with my players and become the first captain to lead her side to qualify after the ban, and I am glad we did it together.”
The qualification marks a significant milestone for the Black Maidens, who will now shift their attention to preparations for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, where they will aim to once again showcase Ghana’s rich tradition in women’s youth football.
By; Victoria Kwofie
