The match began with a shock for the home fans when Uganda’s Angies Nabukenya found the back of the net in the 32nd minute. The Ugandan side capitalized on a defensive lapse to take a stunning lead, silencing the Accra crowd and leaving the Princesses with a mountain to climb. Despite several attempts to equalize before the break, the visitors held firm to take their 1-0 advantage into the halftime interval.
However, the second half saw a revitalized Ghanaian side emerge from the tunnel. Head coach Charles Simpson’s halftime adjustments paid off quickly as the Black Princesses intensified their pressure on the Ugandan goal. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 56th minute when Priscilla Mensah fired home the equalizer, restoring hope and momentum to the West Africans.
As the clock ticked toward full time, the match appeared to be heading for a stalemate. But in the 85th minute, Latifa Abesik emerged as the hero of the night, netting a clinical winner to complete the comeback. The final whistle triggered wild celebrations as the Black Princesses secured the 2-1 result, maintaining their perfect record on home soil during this qualifying campaign.
With this crucial win, Ghana needs only a draw in the return leg to secure their place at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. The decisive second leg is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at the Vuga Kadiba Stadium in Kampala. While Ghana holds the upper hand, the Ugandan Queens will be counting on their home supporters to help them overturn the one-goal deficit and make a historic breakthrough of their own.
The Black Princesses are currently chasing their eighth consecutive appearance at the global showpiece, a streak that underlines their dominance in African youth football. Following the victory, the team expressed their determination to finish the job in Kampala, sharing the message that they remain stronger together in their quest to bring back the love for the national game.