Ghana's Black Maidens landed in Accra to a presidential welcome after cracking the world's top eight at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Africa's young stars just made the world pay attention. Ghana's Black Maidens are back on home soil after reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco 2026, a run that puts them among the best eight teams on the planet.
The squad arrived in Ghana on Monday and were greeted at their base in Accra by President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku. He congratulated the players and technical staff for flying the national flag on the global stage. He praised their discipline, fighting spirit and tactical organisation, and urged the youngsters to treat Morocco as the foundation for the next stage of their development.
The road to the last eight had real drama. In the Round of 16, Ghana and Argentina finished 1-1 in regulation time. The Black Maidens were down to 10 players after Hajara Adam was sent off, yet they held their nerve in the shootout and won 5-4 on penalties. Jessica Appiah scored the decisive spot-kick and was named Player of the Match.
The quarter-final brought a tough test against a disciplined Japan side. Coach Joe Nana Adarkwa's team lost 1-0 to a goal from Nanami Kurita, a narrow margin against one of the tournament's most organised opponents. The result ended the run, but a team of teenagers has shown that Ghana's pipeline of young female talent can compete with the world's best.
