By Kwame Bediako
Ghana’s Black Starlets suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Senegal in their second Group D match at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a result that leaves their qualification hopes hanging in the balance. Despite a spirited start, the young Ghanaians were unable to turn early dominance into goals.
The Starlets thought they had taken the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when they found the net in the 8th minute, but the celebration was cut short after VAR ruled the goal out for an infringement. Ghana continued to press forward and looked in control for large parts of the first half.
Senegal’s task became more difficult in the 42nd minute when El Hadji Sow was shown a second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men just before the break. However, Ghana failed to make the numerical advantage count, as Isaac Barfo squandered a golden opportunity by missing a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
After the restart, Senegal showed resilience and struck against the run of play in the 57th minute through Ibrahima Dione, who finished clinically to give his side a crucial lead. The goal shifted momentum and forced Ghana to chase the game under pressure.
Despite late attacking pressure and sustained efforts to find an equaliser, the Black Starlets could not break down Senegal’s disciplined defence. The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group D with just one point, setting up a decisive final group match against South Africa.
