The Black Maidens have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after edging Senegal 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The hard-fought victory sees Ghana return to the global showpiece after missing out on the previous two editions, with the team booking its place at the tournament to be hosted in Morocco later this year.
The decisive qualifying fixture came after the two sides had played out a draw in the first leg in Dakar, leaving everything to play for in the return encounter in Accra.
Senegal made an impressive start to the contest, stunning the home supporters by taking the lead in the 10th minute to pile early pressure on the Black Maidens.
Despite falling behind, Ghana gradually found their rhythm and began to dominate possession, creating several promising opportunities as they searched for a way back into the game.
Their determination paid off just before the halftime whistle when Oaks FC captain Seidatu calmly slotted home in the 44th minute following a well-crafted attacking move to restore parity.
The equaliser lifted the atmosphere inside the Accra Sports Stadium as the teams headed into the break locked at 1-1.
The second half produced an intense battle, with both sides pushing for the winning goal that would secure automatic qualification.
Ghana looked the more adventurous in attack for long periods, while Senegal remained a constant threat on the counter.
Both defences, however, stood resolute, and neither goalkeeper was beaten again as the match remained level after 90 minutes.
With the tie deadlocked and the qualification rules sending the contest straight to penalties, the fate of both nations rested on a nerve-wracking shootout.
The Black Maidens held their composure from the spot, matching Senegal kick for kick before eventually prevailing 7-6 to seal qualification and trigger jubilant celebrations among the players, technical team and home supporters.
The victory marks a significant achievement for head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa and his squad, who have successfully guided Ghana back to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after consecutive qualification disappointments.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be staged in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, with the Black Maidens now set to fly Ghana’s flag on the world stage.
