The two sides produced an entertaining opening spell, with both teams showing attacking intent. Ghana eventually broke the deadlock on the 24th minute when Hope Agbasi finished off a flawless cross from Yaw Acheampong to give the Black Starlets the lead.

Ghana continued to apply pressure after taking the lead and came close to doubling their advantage on two occasions. However, efforts from Alidu Issah and Yaw Acheampong were kept out by the Moroccan goalkeeper as the Starlets went into the break with a narrow advantage.

Few minutes into the second half, Yaw Acheampong took on his marker before being brought down inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Alidu Issah stepped up to confidently convert the resulting penalty, doubling Ghana’s lead.

The Black Starlets continued to search for more goals as substitute Gavi Robinho came close with a long-range effort, but his attempt sailed over the crossbar. Another substitute Nii Odoi Tawiah also had an opportunity from a rebound, only for his effort to be blocked by a Moroccan defender and diverted for a corner.

The victory gives Coach Kassim Mingle and his technical team a positive start to the two-match series as they continue preparations for the WAFU Zone B U17 Championship which will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Starlets and Morocco U17 side will meet again in the second friendly at the King Mohammed VI Football Complex on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Credit: Ghana FA

The technical team includes Hamza Mohammed as assistant coach, Stephen Ahorlu as Goalkeepers trainer and Waisu Ali Mohammed as Team Manager.

The Coach Mingle-led technical team has commenced work immediately as the National U17 team prepare for this year’s WAFU B U17 Qualification Tournament.

To kick start preparations, a nation-wide scouting exercise aimed at identifying talented footballers born in 2010 from schools, colts clubs, academies, and community teams across the country is underway.

The exercise is expected to cover all 10 football regions in Ghana, providing young players with an opportunity to showcase their abilities and earn a place in the National U17 team.

Meanwhile, Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum who led the National U-17 team for players born in 2009 this year, will be entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing preparations for the next cycle involving players born in 2011.

Dr. Ogum is also expected to begin monitoring emerging talents and coordinating scouting activities ahead of the team’s assembly next year.

This arrangement is expected to ensure a smooth transition and to ensure adequate preparation for the National U17 team ahead of its international assignments.

U17 Technical staff for 2010 cycle:

Credit: Ghana FA

The Starlets started the game brightly and took the lead through Eric Adu Gyamfi, who found the back of the net to break the deadlock and give the team a deserved advantage.

The goal lifted the confidence of the Ghanaian side, who controlled large spells of the game and continued to push forward in search of more goals.

However, Uganda responded before halftime and drew level through a corner kick situation, bringing the game back to 1-1 heading into the break.

The Black Starlets returned strongly for the second half and restored their lead through Abdul Latif Wunzalgu, whose goal looked set to send Ghana to the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

With the Black Starlets appearing to be in control and just minutes away from qualification, Uganda were awarded a penalty with about five minutes remaining in the contest. The East Africans converted from the spot to level the game at 2-2 and force the match into a penalty shootout.

The shootout proved dramatic and tense, with both sides converting several kicks. In the end, Uganda edged Ghana 8-7 on penalties to secure qualification to the World Cup.

The painful defeat means the Black Starlets will miss out on the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup despite an impressive and spirited campaign in Morocco.

Head Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum and his players will now have to regroup and shift attention to the next qualification cycle.

Credit: Ghana FA

The team traveled with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.

The Starlets departed from Accra in the early hours of Wednesday and completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.

The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.

President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku was present at the airport to bid farewell to the team. He encouraged the players and officials, assuring them of the unwavering support and confidence Ghanaians have in their ability to make the nation proud.

Ghana has been drawn in a challenging Group D, where they will face Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa. The group promises to be highly competitive, with each team aiming to secure qualification to the knockout stage.

The Black Starlets will be looking to reclaim their status as one of Africa’s dominant forces at the youth level.

Credit: Ghana FA

The 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw was held on April 8, 2026, in Cairo, for the tournament, which will be hosted in Morocco from May 13 to June 3.

Ghana was placed in Pot 4 for the draw, having failed to qualify for the tournament for the ninth consecutive year.

The Starlets secured qualification through a second-place finish in the 2025 WAFU Zone B Championship.

The top two teams in each group will earn automatic spots in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2026.

2026 U-17 AFCON Group Results: 

• Group A:  Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
• Group B:  Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
• Group C:  Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
• Group D:  Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, Algeria 

Credit: CAF

The team departed Ghana at 13:30 GMT and touched down in Abidjan approximately an hour later, marking the beginning of the next phase of their preparations for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

The delegation, made up of players, technical staff and management, is expected to proceed to Ebimpe, where both matches will be held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

The friendlies, scheduled for April 27 and 30, will provide the Black Starlets with a crucial opportunity to test their readiness against a strong Ivorian side as they fine-tune preparations for the continental tournament.

With the team now settled in Ivory Coast, focus shifts to training sessions and tactical adjustments as the technical team aims to get the best out of the squad ahead of the important encounters.

Credit: Ghana FA

The deal, announced earlier this year, covers the Black Stars, Black Queens, Black Satellites, and Black Starlets. According to Okraku, the financial backing has given the senior national team fresh motivation and belief as they push to secure a spot at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

“The motivation that comes with MTN’s support cannot be underestimated. It has boosted the morale of our players and given them the confidence to push harder as we seek another World Cup qualification,” Okraku said.

He emphasized that modern football has become an expensive venture, requiring not just assistance from FIFA and government, but also strong corporate backing. MTN’s intervention, he noted, demonstrates true corporate leadership and a commitment to developing Ghana football at all levels.

“Beyond the Black Stars, MTN’s sponsorship is helping the Black Queens, Satellites, and Starlets. This holistic investment is building the future of Ghana football,” he added.

Okraku also acknowledged other sponsors including KGL Foundation, Lele Rice, 5 Star, and Goil, but reserved special praise for MTN, describing the partnership as a “game-changer.”

He further thanked Ghanaians for their massive support in recent matches, particularly the win over Mali, urging fans to keep rallying behind the team as they target qualification.

Ghana has appeared in four FIFA World Cups since 2006, famously reaching the quarterfinals in 2010. With MTN’s support, Okraku believes the Black Stars are well positioned not only to qualify for the 2026 edition but to make a bigger impact on the global stage.

Credit: Ghana FA

The groundbreaking deal was revealed during a colourful ceremony at MTN House in Accra on Thursday attended by bigwigs of Ghana football including GFA President Kurt Simeon-Okraku and Executive Committee members, new Chief Director at the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, Wilhemina Asamoah representing the Minister, Black Stars legends and football fans.

Revealing that his allegiance to the Black Stars stretches back to Ghana’s quarter final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in his native South Africa, MTN CEO, Stephen Blewett hailed Ghanaian love and passion for football, evidenced by his first hand experience after arriving in Accra last year.

“I had a good idea of how passionate Ghana was about football before coming here. But one memory stands out after arriving in Ghana, during a Black Stars match, the streets were empty and the country came to a standstill,” Mr. Blewett said.

“It became clear to me that football is not just a sport, it is part of the national heartbeat. The pride, passion and unity football ignites in the country is a testament to its unmatched power to connect and inspire people,” he said.

Mr. Weblett expressed MTN’s pride at being the biggest corporate supporter of Ghanaian football as headline sponsor of all four national teams namely Black Stars, Queens, Satellites and Starlets for two years from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2027.

This is in addition to their already existing sponsorship of the MTN FA Cup since 2011, with a national MTN elite U-19 team also on the horizon to scout players for the national U-20 team.

He charged the Black Stars to not only qualify but target winning the FIFA World Cup and implored Ghanaians to instill a sense of belief and hope in the players.

“By embracing all national teams, we are affirming that every Ghanaian player deserves the opportunity to shine,” he explained.

“Ghana has never lifted the World Cup trophy, but that is a spark, not a scar. It should be the fire that drives us to worker harder and emphatically at MTN Ghana, we want to see Ghana win the World Cup, that’s our dream, mission and commitment,” he said.

GFA boss Kurt Okraku noted that MTN has impacted Ghanaian youth with their investment in Ghanaian football. The MTN FA Cup, he said, encompasses 2nd and 3rd tier clubs in every corner of the country, offering a big platform for young relatively unknown players to rub shoulders against their seniors and showcase their quality and skills.

He pledged judicious use of the resources to yield positive results in order to keep the partnership alive.

“MTN Ghana believes in our today and collective future. They have always shown commitment, leadership and support and with this deal, the biggest problem of Ghana football has been solved by MTN,” Mr Simeon-Okraku said.

“I’m so grateful to MTN for the belief in my leadership, the belief in the vehicle of football and what football can do for the youth and people of Ghana,” he stated.

On her part, the Chief Director of the Sports and Recreation Ministry, Wilhemina Asamoah reiterated that MTN’s commitment to not just football but all sectors is worthy of emulation by other corporate bodies.

She congratulated the GFA for making Ghana football so attractive to a big conglomerate like MTN and hailedv the abilility of sports to impact lives and contribute to economic growth, cultural and social cohesion.