Ghana's Black Maidens beat Argentina on penalties to reach U-17 Women's World Cup quarters
Ten-player Ghana held Argentina 1-1 then won 5-4 on spot kicks in Rabat. Jessica Appiah scored and converted the winner; the Maidens wait on Kenya or Japan as Nigeria's Flamingos and Kenya's Junior Starlets play tonight.
By Emily · 29 Oct 2026, 12:20 WAT
Ghana's Black Maidens are in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after beating Argentina 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat on Wednesday 28 October.
Jessica Appiah opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Cynthia Obinsrewuo squared for her to finish, the Ghana Football Association match report says. FIFA's match centre lists the same 16th-minute strike. Argentina stayed dangerous: Mercedes Diz hit the crossbar when clean through, and Obinsrewuo had a lob ruled out for offside.
The game turned with 13 minutes left. Hajara Adam was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Ghana with ten players. Diz then equalised on 86 minutes, heading a looping free-kick beyond Belinda Maku Aklie, according to FIFA's Matchday 10 round-up and the GFA.
From the spot Ghana were clinical. Appiah, Juliana Gyekyewaa, Rafia Osman, Christiana Ashiaku and Saraphina Essenam all scored. Argentina's Oriana Gomez missed, and Ghana went through 5-4. Appiah was named Player of the Match.
Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwah, hoarse from celebrating, told the GFA the side controlled the match until the red card and then followed tactical instructions until the equaliser. Looking ahead he said Ghana must reach the semi-finals and would deal with whoever comes next. 3News notes this is Ghana's fifth trip to the U-17 Women's World Cup quarter-finals.
For TuSport readers the African path is the story, not a recycled wire scoreline. The Maidens now wait on Thursday's Round of 16 between Kenya's Junior Starlets and Japan, kick-off 19:00 WAT on Pitch 3 at the same complex. The winner faces Ghana in the last eight on Sunday 1 November.
The same Thursday board also carries Nigeria's Flamingos against Mexico at 16:00 WAT on Pitch 2 — a West African knockout day in Morocco that Nigerian and Ghanaian audiences are tracking side by side. TuSport will report both results once they are confirmed, without inventing scores.
Until then the desk takeaway from Rabat is clear: a ten-player Ghana side survived an Argentina scare, Appiah delivered from open play and the spot, and Africa already has one guaranteed quarter-finalist while two more West African teams still have a chance tonight.
Sources: www.ghanafa.org · www.ghanafa.org · www.fifa.com · www.fifa.com · www.3news.com · sportsbeat.ng
