Ghana’s Black Maidens held hosts Senegal U-17 Women to a 1–1 draw in the first leg of the final qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, played at the Diamniadio Wade Stadium on Friday, July 3.
The match marked a crucial step in the final phase of qualification, with a World Cup ticket firmly in sight. Ghana arrived in Dakar full of confidence after an emphatic qualification run, sweeping past Togo and Liberia with an 8–0 aggregate scoreline, scoring 16 goals and conceding none. Senegal, on the other hand, edged Tunisia 3–2 on aggregate before surviving a tense penalty shootout victory (5–4) against Cameroon to reach this stage.
The hosts made a bright start and were rewarded with an early goal from the penalty spot, a strike that handed Senegal a 1–0 advantage at halftime. Despite being away from international action for two years, the Black Maidens showed resilience and composure, gradually growing into the game as the second half progressed.
Ghana’s persistence finally paid off late in the match when substitute Benedicta Danso rose to the occasion, calmly slotting home the equaliser in the 85th minute to silence the Dakar crowd and keep Ghana’s qualification hopes alive.
Attention now shifts to the return leg at the Accra Sports Stadium on July 11. With the tie delicately poised, Head Coach Nana Joe Adarkwa and her charges will be determined to make home advantage count as they push to secure Ghana’s seventh FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification.
By; Victoria Kwofie
