The Black Princesses, Ghana’s national under-20 women’s football team, have left Accra and are en route to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the decisive second leg of their third-round qualifier against the Basetsana in the African pathway to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, at a venue in Johannesburg, setting the stage for a tense and pivotal showdown.
The first leg, played on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Accra Sports Stadium, ended in a gripping 2-2 draw. Ghana took the lead in the 34th minute through Agnes Yeboah, who rose to powerfully head in a corner delivered by Linda Owusu Ansah.
The Black Princesses doubled their advantage later in the first half via a goal from Linda, capitalizing on their momentum and creating several promising chances.
However, South Africa’s Basetsana showed strong resilience, clawing their way back into the contest with two goals of their own, including an equalizer late in the game that leveled the scoreline. A potential third goal for Ghana by substitute Jessica Appiah in the closing stages was disallowed for offside, leaving the tie finely balanced and preventing the hosts from securing a valuable lead.
Head coach Charles Sampson expressed disappointment at not capitalizing on their dominance in parts of the match but remains optimistic about the team’s prospects away from home.
He emphasized the need for maturity under pressure and believes the squad can adapt to the challenge in South Africa, where they will face a hostile environment and a motivated Basetsana side eager to turn the tie in their favor.
The Black Princesses advanced to this round after a convincing 4-0 aggregate victory over Tunisia, while South Africa progressed emphatically with a 9-0 aggregate win over Eswatini, highlighting the strength and scoring prowess of both teams in earlier stages.
The stakes could not be higher in Johannesburg. Victory on aggregate across the two legs will propel the winner into the final round of African qualifiers, where they would face the victor of the Zambia versus Uganda tie for one of the continent’s four coveted spots at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Hosted by Poland from September 5 to 27, 2026, this will be the 12th edition of the tournament and the first time Poland stages the event, featuring 24 teams from around the globe in cities including Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec, and Bielsko-Biała.
For the Black Princesses, a positive result in South Africa is essential to secure a place among the world’s top young female talents on the international stage. The squad, technical team, and supporters are fully focused on delivering a performance that can swing the tie and advance Ghana’s cause.