Black Maidens Beat Argentina on Penalties to Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Quarter-Finals

Jessica Appiah scored Ghana’s opener and converted the decisive penalty as the 10-player Black Maidens defeated Argentina 5-4 in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in Morocco. Ghana now stand one victory away from the semi-finals.

RABAT, Morocco — Ghana’s Black Maidens have advanced to the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after defeating Argentina 5-4 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.

Jessica Appiah delivered the decisive contribution, scoring Ghana’s opening goal before converting the winning penalty in a match that tested the team’s resilience after defender Hajara Adam was sent off.

Ghana took the lead in the 16th minute but were forced to defend with 10 players during the closing stages. Argentina equalised through Mercedes Diz in the 86th minute, taking the Round of 16 encounter to a penalty shootout.

The Black Maidens converted all five of their penalties, while Argentina missed one, securing Ghana’s place among the tournament’s final eight teams. Appiah was subsequently named Player of the Match.

The result marks Ghana’s return to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2018.

How Ghana defeated Argentina

Ghana started positively and broke the deadlock after 16 minutes.

Cynthia Obinsrewuo created the opportunity, delivering a square pass for Jessica Appiah to finish and give the Black Maidens an early advantage.

The goal rewarded Ghana’s attacking approach and placed Argentina under pressure to respond.

Argentina threatened an equaliser when Mercedes Diz struck the crossbar after breaking through on goal.

Ghana also came close to doubling their lead. Obinsrewuo chased a long ball and lifted it over Argentina goalkeeper Bianca Virga, but the effort was disallowed for offside.

The match changed significantly in the 77th minute when Hajara Adam received a second yellow card and was dismissed.

Ghana were reduced to 10 players with approximately 13 minutes of normal time remaining. Argentina increased the pressure and eventually equalised in the 86th minute.

Diz met a looping free-kick with a header that beat Ghana goalkeeper Belinda Maku Aklie. The equaliser denied Ghana a victory in normal time and sent the match to penalties.

Jessica Appiah delivers decisive penalty

The shootout required composure from both teams after a demanding knockout encounter.

Argentina’s Oriana Gomez failed to convert her attempt.

Ghana, by contrast, scored with all five of their penalties.

The Ghana Football Association identified the successful takers as Jessica Appiah, Juliana Gyekyewaa, Rafia Osman, Christiana Ashiaku and Saraphina Essenam.

Appiah’s decisive conversion completed the 5-4 shootout victory.

Her contributions at both ends of the match’s decisive moments earned her FIFA’s Player of the Match award.

The result demonstrated Ghana’s ability to recover psychologically after conceding a late equaliser and losing a player to dismissal.

It also highlighted the importance of penalty execution in knockout football, where a match can be decided by small margins after regulation time ends level.