Black Princesses produced a strong second-half comeback to beat Uganda 2-1 in the first leg of its FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Ghana was stunned in the 32nd minute when Uganda took the lead, silencing the home crowd and putting the hosts under early pressure.
The visitors held their advantage into the break, leaving the Princesses with work to do in the second half.
Ghana returned with greater intensity and found the equaliser in the 58th minute through substitute Priscilla Mensah, who powered home a header to bring the game level and lift the atmosphere in the stadium.
The Princesses continued to press for a winner, but Uganda’s goalkeeper produced a series of impressive saves to keep her side in the contest. Ghana’s persistence, however, paid off late on.
In the 85th minute, Latifa Abesik finished off a well-worked move after a precise delivery from Jessica Appiah on the flank, sealing a deserved victory for the hosts.
Mensah came close to adding a third in the closing stages but was twice denied by the woodwork.
The result gives Ghana a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg in Uganda, with qualification still firmly in their hands.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is an international association football tournament, organised by FIFA, for national teams of women under the age of 20.
The tournament is held in even-numbered years. It was first held in 2002 as the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship with an upper age limit of 19.
The tournament in Poland is the 12th edition of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, running from September 5-27, 2026.
Korea DPR is the current champion, having claimed its third crown at Colombia 2024 to draw level with the USA and Germany as the competition’s joint most successful nation.
24 teams from across all six confederations will vie for glory as host nation Poland make their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup debut.
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