Ghana’s under-17 girls’ team closed out the regional tournament in Yamoussoukro with a comfortable victory over Cote d’Ivoire after an earlier loss to Nigeria.
Ghana's Black Maidens, the national under-17 women's football team, finished their WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup campaign on a high note on Sunday, beating hosts Cote d'Ivoire 4-0 in Yamoussoukro.
The result, reported by the Ghanaian Times, gave the young Ghanaian side a strong send-off from a tournament in which they had also suffered a setback against Nigeria.
How the goals came
Seidatu Wahab put Ghana in front in the 14th minute from the penalty spot. The Maidens kept pressing and doubled their lead in the 32nd minute through Gloria Ameaa, effectively settling the contest before the break.
Ghana stayed in control after half-time and completed the scoring late, with Cynthia netting the fourth goal in the 86th minute.
The match also included a post-match penalty shootout, which organisers used as part of player development work attached to the competition. Such shootouts are sometimes staged at youth level to give players competitive spot-kick experience outside of knockout pressure.
A mixed tournament overall
The win came after Ghana had lost 4-2 to Nigeria at the Lycée Scientifique earlier in the campaign. Nigeria remains the benchmark in West African women's youth football, and the defeat underlined the gap Ghana's coaching staff will want to close.
Even so, the scoring record across the campaign points to an attack-minded group. Four goals against the hosts, and two against Nigeria despite the loss, suggest the Maidens are capable of creating chances against the region's better sides.
Why the WAFU B tournament matters
WAFU B is the B zone of the West African Football Union, the regional body that groups national associations in the sub-region. Its competitions serve as a proving ground for young players who later graduate into national teams at U-20 level and, eventually, the senior Black Queens.
For Ghana, the U-17 level has historically been a source of talent. Players who impress at this stage often move into the Ghana Football Association's wider women's national team pipeline, and tournaments like this give scouts and coaches a live look at how the players handle travel, hostile crowds and opponents from outside the domestic league.
For Ghanaians abroad
For readers in the United States following Ghanaian football from a distance, the WAFU B Girls Cup is one of the few regular chances to see the next generation of Black Queens players in competitive action before they reach continental or global stages. Names like Wahab and Ameaa are worth noting now.
The Ghana Football Association has not yet announced the squad's next assignment.
