Ghana’s Black Maidens have been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Japan in their quarter-final encounter on Sunday, November 1, in Morocco.

The defeat ended Ghana’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the competition, as Japan secured qualification for the last four following a closely contested encounter at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.

Both teams approached the match with determination, but Japan gradually established control through their technical ability and possession-based style of play.

The Black Maidens, coached by Joe Nana Adarkwa, put up a disciplined defensive performance in the opening half, making it difficult for their Japanese opponents to find spaces and create clear scoring opportunities.

However, Ghana struggled to make meaningful attacking contributions despite enjoying some good spells during the encounter.

Japan eventually broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half when Nanami Kurita scored in the 54th minute.

The goal came after an attempt by Yuka Kishida took a deflection and fell into Kurita’s path inside the penalty area. The Japanese forward reacted quickly and finished from close range to give her side the advantage.

Ghana responded by pushing forward in search of an equaliser, with the players attempting to increase the pressure on Japan’s defence.

Despite their efforts and determination, the Black Maidens could not find a breakthrough against a well-organised Japanese side that maintained its defensive discipline until the final whistle.

The match also presented a difficult challenge for Coach Adarkwa, who was forced to make changes to his starting lineup following the absence of captain Seidatu Wahab through injury and Hajara Adam’s suspension after receiving a red card in the previous round.

Osman Rafia took over the captaincy, while Mavis Koah and Belinda Kpentey were brought into the starting lineup.

Ghana’s elimination comes after an impressive Round of 16 performance in which the Black Maidens defeated Argentina 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The victory against Argentina had raised hopes of another historic semi-final appearance, but Japan proved difficult to overcome in the quarter-final encounter.

Reacting to the defeat, Coach Joe Nana Adarkwa expressed pride in his players, praising their commitment and determination throughout the tournament.

He acknowledged the disappointment of exiting the competition but maintained that the team had given its best and would return home to work harder.

Japan, meanwhile, have advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face defending champions North Korea as they continue their pursuit of another U-17 Women’s World Cup title.

Source