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Black Starlets lose 2-1 to Morocco in Rabat, a late goal settling the friendly series

Ghana had won the first friendly 2-0, so the two-match series ended level before the WAFU Zone B qualifiers.

Kokonsa NewsroomFirst published
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Pinned summary · as of

Ghana's Under-17 side, the Black Starlets, went down 2-1 to Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday, 30 September, after the hosts struck with the final kick of the game. The result left the two friendlies tied at a win apiece and brought Ghana's overseas build-up to a close.

What we know

  • Morocco's under-17 team beat the Black Starlets 2-1 in the second friendly, with the winner arriving at the very end of the match.
  • Morocco went ahead in the 11th minute following a weak clearance from the Ghana goalkeeper.
  • Issah Alidu was clean through on the Moroccan goalkeeper three times before the interval and could not finish any of the chances.
  • Ghana captain Abdul Rafiu Issah received a red card for a strong tackle early in the second half, which left the team a player short.
  • Yaw Acheampong levelled the score at 1-1 with a free kick, 75 minutes into the game, even though Ghana were down to ten players.
  • A Gavi Robinho shot was deflected behind for a corner, and Morocco broke away from that set piece to score the decider.
  • Ghana had taken the first friendly 2-0, so each side finished the series with one win. The two games closed out Ghana's overseas build-up to the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, a tournament that also decides qualification to the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

  • Reports differ on exactly when the captain was dismissed: MyNewsGH said it came ten minutes after the break, while OmanGhana gave the 55th minute.
  • The Ghanaian Times said the coaching staff is likely to spend its remaining preparation days refining the squad and giving more players a chance at selection; no other report mentions this.

Why it matters for Ghana

The Black Starlets are the group Ghana is relying on in the WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, the route to the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. A red card and a conceded late goal are the kind of details coaches will study before that competition. For football followers in Ghana, the series gives an early look at a young squad that is still being shaped.

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