Ghana’s Black Princesses faced South Africa in a thrilling first leg of their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium, resulting in a 2-2 draw. This outcome sets up a crucial return fixture in Johannesburg on February 14, 2026, where both teams will vie for a spot in the final round of African qualifying.
Despite entering the match without their top scorer, Mercy Attobrah, due to injury, Ghana showcased their attacking prowess early on. They opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a well-placed goal by Agnes Yeboah. Following this, the Black Princesses came close to extending their lead; however, Diana Amoako’s impressive long-range shot hit the post just before halftime.
South Africa, who advanced to this round with a dominating 9-0 win over Eswatini, equalized shortly after the second half began. A defensive mishap allowed them to capitalize on a low cross, bringing the score to 1-1. Ghana quickly responded, regaining the lead just four minutes later when Linda Owusu Ansah scored with a powerful header from a corner kick.
However, defensive inconsistencies plagued Ghana once again, leading to another equalizer from South Africa in the 60th minute. In a dramatic finish, the Black Princesses searched for a late winner and thought they had succeeded when Jessica Appiah found the net in the 90th minute, only to have the goal disallowed for offside.
After a solid performance against Tunisia in the previous round, where Ghana won 4-0 on aggregate, the team faces a challenging task in the second leg. Nevertheless, the Black Princesses have shown resilience and skill, and fans remain hopeful for a favorable outcome as they prepare for the decisive encounter.