Black Starlets suffer heartbreaking World Cup exit after Uganda penalty drama
Black Starlets have missed out on qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a painful penalty shoot-out defeat to Uganda in their playoff clash.
The tense encounter ended 2-2 after regulation time before Uganda triumphed 8-7 in the shoot-out to book their place at the global tournament.
Ghana made a dream start to the contest and grabbed the lead inside the opening 10 minutes through in-form forward Eric Gyamfi. The youngster reacted sharply at the back post and fired through the legs of goalkeeper Lukyamuzi after being left unmarked in the area.
Uganda responded by adjusting their shape to a back three system, a tactical switch that gradually shifted momentum in their favour. Midfielder Owen Mukise first tested Ghana goalkeeper John Annan with a powerful strike before the East Africans eventually found the equaliser from the resulting corner.
Captain Mukise produced a moment of brilliance by scoring directly from the corner kick to bring Uganda level with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
The game remained evenly balanced after the break, although Uganda came close to taking the lead when John Owino rattled the crossbar with a fierce effort early in the second half.
Despite Uganda’s pressure, Ghana regained the advantage against the run of play through Abdul Latif. The move was initiated by Gyamfi, whose dangerous delivery from the left was cleverly dummied by Clement Agyei before Latif arrived to finish from close range.
Just as the Black Starlets looked set to secure qualification, Uganda were awarded a late penalty following a VAR review after defender Nicholas Asumang was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Ibanda Arafat calmly converted from the spot, sending goalkeeper John Annan the wrong way to force the contest into penalties.
Ghana coach Prosper Narteh Ogum made late substitutions before the shoot-out, introducing goalkeeper Michael Armah and Mark Mensah in a final tactical gamble, but Uganda held their nerve to edge the dramatic contest 8-7 on penalties.
The result ends Ghana’s hopes of returning to the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time since 2017, while Uganda secure qualification for only the second time in their history.
