The Sun News On-line

Ghana’s Under-17 women team, Black Maidens, have become the second African side to qualify for the maiden edition of FIFA Under-17 Women World Cup billed for New Zealand.

The Maidens, who suffered two successive defeats in their qualifying campaign in June, brave all odds to post an impressive 2–1 win over Cameroon in Yaounde in the final day of the qualifiers for African teams.

With the weekend victory, Ghana have picked the remaining slot given to Africa by FIFA for the October championship.
It would be recalled that FIFA reduced Africa’s slot for the Under–17 championship from three to two based on the withdrawal of some African countries in the qualifiers.

The Black Maidens on June 27 in Accra, managed a 1–0 defeat against Nigeria Flamengoes, who had already qualified with their 4–2 win over the Ghanaians in Abuja on June 21.
Prior to Saturday’s final showdown, Black Maidens were at the bottom of the table with only three points, but have now finished on six points with only a point behind Flamengoes, who topped the chat with seven points.

For the New Zealnd championship, the Ghanaian girls have been drawn in Group B alongside Korea DPR, Germany and a team from CONCACAF, yet to be decided.
Meanwhile, Flamengoes will trade tackles with England, Brazil and Korea Republic in Group D when hostilities starts in October.

This is the first time FIFA are organising an Under–17 tournament for women as part of their development programmes for the uplift of the female football.