Ghana’s Black Princesses produced a resilient and disciplined performance to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Africa’s Basetsana in the second leg of the third-round qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit (Mbombela), South Africa.
The win sealed a 3-2 aggregate triumph for the West Africans, propelling them into the final (fourth) round of African qualification.
Substitute Priscilla Mensah emerged as the match-winner, netting the decisive goal 18 minutes after entering the fray in the second half. Her strike — described in reports as a well-taken effort that gave goalkeeper Jenna no chance — broke the deadlock and proved the difference on a tense afternoon where the hosts pushed hard for an equalizer.
Despite late pressure from Basetsana, including a notable chance around the 78th minute that was thwarted by solid Ghanaian defending, the Black Princesses held firm to record a crucial clean sheet away from home.
The result avenged the challenges of the first leg, where Ghana had led twice at the Accra Sports Stadium — through goals from Comfort Yeboah (in first-half stoppage time) and Linda Owusu Ansah (a header from a corner in the 52nd minute) — only for South Africa to fight back twice and force a thrilling 2-2 draw.
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Coach Charles Sampson and his technical team will now turn their attention to the decisive final round, scheduled for May 2026. Ghana will face Uganda (who advanced by eliminating Zambia) in a two-legged tie, with the winners earning qualification to the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
A spot there would mark an impressive eighth consecutive appearance for the Black Princesses at the global youth showcase, underlining Ghana’s consistent strength in African women’s U-20 football.
The victory came with a sweet touch of celebration: post-match photos showed the team sharing Valentine’s Day chocolates, blending triumph with a bit of holiday cheer.