The Black Maidens are heading back to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after edging Senegal 7-6 on penalties in a thrilling final qualifying tie at the Accra Sports Stadium.
With the two-legged contest locked at 2-2 on aggregate following identical 1-1 draws in Dakar and Accra, the qualification battle went all the way to a penalty shootout. Ghana kept their composure from the spot to secure a memorable victory in front of jubilant home fans.
Joe Nana Adarkwa’s side showed resilience throughout the qualifiers, overcoming every challenge on their path back to the global stage after missing the previous editions.
The Black Maidens have a proud history at the tournament, including a third-place finish in 2012, and will now be aiming to make another strong impression when the competition takes place in Morocco later this year.
Qualification also reinforces Ghana’s growing reputation in women’s youth football, with the team’s determination and character proving decisive in one of the most dramatic ties of the African qualifiers.
Attention now turns to preparations as the Black Maidens look to carry their momentum onto the world stage and challenge the best young teams from across the globe.