Ghana’s Black Maidens have qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after edging Senegal 7-6 on penalties at the Accra Sports Stadium to seal their place in the tournament in Morocco.
The final qualifying tie finished 2-2 on aggregate after both the first and second legs ended 1-1, forcing the contest into a dramatic penalty shootout, where the Black Maidens held their nerve to secure qualification.
Senegal struck first in the 25th minute to put the visitors ahead, but Ghana responded before the break through captain Seidatu Wahab, whose 44th-minute equaliser restored parity and kept the hosts in the contest.
Neither side could find the decisive goal after the restart, leaving the tie to be settled from the penalty spot. Ghana converted seven of their spot-kicks to seal a hard-fought victory and spark celebrations among the home supporters.
The qualification marks Ghana’s seventh appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, underlining the country’s consistent presence on the global stage at youth level.
The Black Maidens have been drawn in Group C for the tournament, where they will face Canada, Brazil and Norway.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be staged in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, with 24 nations competing for the title.
