The head coach of Ghana’s Black Maidens, Joe Nana Adarkwa, says his players fully understand the significance of Saturday’s decisive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal, as the team bids to return to the global tournament for the first time in eight years.
Ghana will host Senegal at the Accra Sports Stadium in the second leg of the final qualifying round, with the winner over two legs earning one of Africa’s four tickets to the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco later this year.
The Black Maidens head into the crucial encounter with confidence after battling from behind to secure a valuable draw away from home in the first leg, leaving qualification firmly within their grasp.
Black Maidens Eye Long-Awaited World Cup Return
Adarkwa believes his side demonstrated resilience in Dakar and is optimistic his players can produce another spirited display in front of home supporters to seal a place at the World Cup.
“We had to come from behind to secure a point in a very tight game against a difficult Senegal side. The girls showed great character, and now our focus is on winning at home to book our place at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”
Joe Nana Adarkwa, Black Maidens coach
The coach acknowledged the challenge posed by the Senegalese but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and mentality heading into the winner-takes-all encounter. “We will work on getting our lineup right and remain committed to our game plan. Every player understands what is at stake, and we are determined to deliver a performance that makes Ghanaians proud.”
Victory would mark Ghana’s return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2018, ending an eight-year absence from the competition.
The Black Maidens have long been one of Africa’s most successful teams at youth level, having qualified for multiple editions of the tournament since its inception. However, they have narrowly missed out on recent World Cup appearances despite consistently progressing deep into the African qualifiers.
Saturday’s match therefore represents an opportunity to restore Ghana’s place among the continent’s elite in women’s youth football.
Chasing Another Historic Chapter
Qualification would also offer the current generation of players the chance to emulate one of the country’s greatest achievements in women’s football.
Ghana’s finest performance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup came in 2012 when the Black Maidens, under the guidance of Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, won the bronze medal in Azerbaijan after defeating Germany in the third-place playoff.
That remarkable campaign remains the best finish by an African nation at the tournament and established the Black Maidens as a force in global youth football.
Since their last appearance in 2018, Ghana has been eager to reclaim its place on the world stage, making Saturday’s encounter one of the most important fixtures in recent years for the country’s women’s football programme.
The stakes are equally high for Senegal, who are seeking to secure a historic qualification of their own, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle in Accra.
With the aggregate score level after the first leg, the tie is finely balanced, and only one team will progress to represent Africa at the global showpiece in Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football has allocated four qualification slots to the continent for the expanded tournament, making the final qualifying round a decisive hurdle for all remaining contenders.
For Adarkwa and his squad, home advantage could prove crucial as they seek to capitalize on the support of the Ghanaian faithful.
Having shown character to recover from a goal down away from home, the Black Maidens will now look to finish the job in Accra and take another significant step in restoring Ghana’s proud tradition in women’s youth football.
A victory on Saturday would not only secure a coveted World Cup berth but also signal the return of one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses to the biggest stage in U-17 women’s football, where the Black Maidens will hope to write another memorable chapter in their history.
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