Ghana’s U-20 women’s national team, the Black Princesses, have departed Accra for Johannesburg, South Africa, ahead of the crucial second leg of their third-round FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against the Basetsana. The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The first leg, held on February 8 at the Accra Sports Stadium, ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Ghana initially took control through a 34th-minute header from Agnes Yeboah off a Linda Owusu Ansah corner, before Linda doubled the lead later in the first half. Despite dominating portions of the match, the Basetsana staged a strong comeback, netting two goals to level the score. A late goal from Ghana substitute Jessica Appiah was disallowed for offside, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg.

Head coach Charles Sampson acknowledged the missed opportunities but remains confident in his squad’s ability to handle the pressure away from home.

He stressed the importance of maturity and composure in facing a motivated South African side in a hostile environment.

Both teams entered this round with dominant performances in earlier stages: the Black Princesses advanced with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Tunisia, while South Africa secured a 9-0 aggregate triumph over Eswatini. The winner on aggregate across the two legs will progress to the final round of African qualifiers, where they will face the victor of Zambia versus Uganda for one of Africa’s four spots at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The tournament, set to be hosted by Poland from September 5 to 27, 2026, will feature 24 teams competing in cities including Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec, and Bielsko-Biała. For the Black Princesses, a strong showing in South Africa is vital to securing a place among the world’s elite young female players.