Ghana’s national under-17 football team saw their World Cup dreams dashed in heartbreaking fashion, falling 8-7 on penalties to Uganda in the U-17 AFCON qualification playoffs.
Ghana burst out of the gates, seizing an early lead in the ninth minute as Ebony FC’s Eric Adu Gyamfi fired home his second goal of the tournament.
Uganda answered with determination, leveling the score in the 34th minute through a sharp finish from Owen Mukisa, ensuring the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 1-1.
The Black Starlets wasted no time after the break, surging ahead once more as Abdul Latif Wunzalgu struck just six minutes into the second half.
Yet Uganda refused to back down, drawing level late in the match when Arafat Ibanda coolly converted a penalty, setting the stage for a dramatic shootout.
In the nerve-wracking shootout, Uganda held their nerve to edge out Ghana 8-7, booking their ticket to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup set for November.
This defeat means Ghana’s wait for a return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup will stretch to nine years, their last appearance dating back to 2017 in India.
