Ghana’s Black Maidens Secure Second Place in WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup with Dominant Win Over Côte d'Ivoire

Ghana’s national U-17 women’s football team, the Black Maidens, concluded their WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over tournament hosts Côte d'Ivoire. The win, which showcased Ghana's technical superiority and offensive depth, allowed the team to secure a respectable second-place finish in the regional competition. The performance capped off a strong tournament run that reaffirmed Ghana's standing as a powerhouse in West African youth football.

The Maidens took early control of the match, breaking the deadlock in the 14th minute when Seidatu Wahab successfully converted a penalty. Maintaining their aggressive pace, the Ghanaian side doubled their lead in the 32nd minute through a clinical strike by Gloria Ameaa. Ghana’s dominance remained unchallenged throughout the encounter, and the scoring was eventually completed in the 86th minute by Cynthia Obinsrewuo, who capitalized on the tiring Ivorian defense to seal the comprehensive result.

Under the tactical guidance of head coach Nana Joe Adarkwa, the Black Maidens demonstrated a high level of consistency throughout the tournament, recording four victories out of their five fixtures. Despite their strong overall performance, a prior defeat to Nigeria proved to be the decisive factor in the title race. Nigeria finished as the tournament champions, maintaining a perfect winning streak and ending the competition just three points ahead of the Ghanaian side.

While the team fell short of the gold medal, their second-place finish highlights the ongoing strength of Ghana's developmental women's football programs. The emergence of key talents such as Wahab and Ameaa during this regional showcase provides a positive outlook for the Black Maidens as they look toward future continental qualifiers and international assignments. The performance in Côte d'Ivoire serves as a critical building block for the squad as they aim to return to the global stage in upcoming cycles.