The Black Princesses of Ghana delivered a resilient comeback performance to defeat Uganda 2-1 in the first leg of the decisive 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, May 3, 2026.
The home side, coached by Charles Sampson, started with a lineup featuring debutant goalkeeper Belinda Maku, defenders including Precious Asante, Diana Amoako, Margaret Agyapomaa, and Juliana Gyekyewaa, midfielders Esther Asamoah, Veronica Baah, Linda Owusu Ansah, and Latifa Musah, and forward Agnes Yeboah leading the line.
Despite strong home support filling the stands, Ghana faced an early setback when Uganda’s captain Agnes Nabukenya scored in the 32nd minute with a looping strike that beat Maku, giving the visitors a surprise lead and temporarily quieting the passionate crowd.
Uganda defended stoutly in the first half, frustrating Ghana’s attacking efforts and heading into the break with the advantage. However, the Black Princesses emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and purpose. Coach Sampson’s substitutions proved decisive, injecting fresh energy into the attack.
Priscilla Mensah, entering from the bench, leveled the score around the 56th-58th minute with a powerful header, sparking wild celebrations among the fans and shifting momentum firmly in Ghana’s favor. The hosts continued to press forward, though Uganda’s goalkeeper produced several impressive saves to keep the score level for a time.
In the 85th minute, another substitute, Latifa Abesik, sealed the victory by finishing off a well-crafted move. She latched onto a perfect pass from Jessica Appiah Asamoah delivered from the flank, slotting home the winner and sending the Accra Sports Stadium into raptures.
This narrow 2-1 triumph gives Ghana a valuable one-goal lead to carry into the return leg on May 9 in Kampala. The result underscores the Black Princesses’ fighting spirit and keeps alive their remarkable record of qualifying for every edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 2002.
With the aggregate score decisive, both teams will prepare for a tense battle in Uganda, where the Black Princesses will aim to secure their eighth consecutive appearance on the global stage. The electric atmosphere in Accra and the impact of the second-half changes highlighted why Ghana remains a powerhouse in African women’s youth football.