Côte d’Ivoire takes command as Ghana faces an uphill task in U-20 World Cup Qualifiers

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

Côte d’Ivoire’s U-20 Elephant Girls put one foot into the next round of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers with a convincing 2–0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday.

However, Ghana’s Black Princesses were left to rue missed chances after being held to a 2–2 draw by South Africa.

Playing in front of a buoyant home crowd at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, where gates were thrown open to fans, the Ivorians produced a composed and dominant display to seize control of their third-round tie.

Nguessan Rolande opened the scoring in the 34th minute, rewarding sustained pressure from the hosts, before Djan Lou Audrey doubled the advantage midway through the second half to cap an impressive performance.

The result gives coach Mathieu Esposito and his young side a healthy cushion ahead of the return leg in Lubumbashi on February 14. 

With two away goals to protect and growing confidence within the squad, Côte d’Ivoire will travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo knowing they are firmly in the driving seat for a place in the fourth round of the qualifiers, en route to Poland 2026.

In contrast, Ghana’s Black Princesses endured a frustrating afternoon in Accra as they failed to fully capitalise on home advantage against South Africa. 

The encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium ended 2–2, a scoreline that slightly favoured the visitors heading into the second leg.

Ghana began brightly and took the lead in the first half when Agnes Yeboah of Jonina Ladies nodded home from a well-delivered corner by Linda Owusu Ansah. 

Despite dominating large spells before the break, the Princesses went into halftime with only a slender one-goal lead, a missed opportunity that would later prove costly.

South Africa stunned the home crowd early in the second half with a well-struck volley to draw level. Ghana responded quickly, however, as Owusu Ansah restored the lead in spectacular fashion, curling a corner kick directly into the net to make it 2–1.

Defensive lapses crept in once again for the hosts, and South Africa capitalised on a breakdown in Ghana’s build-up play to equalise for the second time. 

Although the Black Princesses had a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up, they were unable to find a late winner as the match ended all square.

With the tie delicately poised, Ghana now face a tough away assignment in the return leg in South Africa, where they must produce a disciplined and clinical performance to keep their World Cup dream alive.

While Côte d’Ivoire marches forward with confidence, Ghana must regroup quickly, as both West African nations continue their contrasting journeys in the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

First leg third round results are:

Nigeria 1-0 Senegal 

Uganda 1-1 Zambia

Kenya 1-0 Tanzania 

Ghana 2-2 South Africa 

Egypt 0-1 Benin Republic 

Cameroon 5-0 Botswana

Guinea Bissau 1-1 Malawi 

Côte d'Ivoire 2-0 DR Congo