Ghana's Under-17 men's national football team, the Black Starlets, trashed South Africa in the decisive Group D encounter at the 2026 U17 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

The Black Starlets won the game, which was the last game of the group stage, by 3 goals to 1.

The victory puts Ghana 3rd on the Group D table with 4 points, which means that they still have a chance to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar later this year and the quarter-finals of the U17 AFCON.

Senegal, which topped Group D with 6 points, gets automatic qualification to the World Cup and proceeds to the quarter-finals of the AFCON.

Algeria sits 2nd on the table at the moment because of alphabetical order. They have the same points (4 points) and goal difference (1 goal) as Ghana. Per CAF rules, a coin toss would now determine who finishes 2nd or 3rd in Group D.

The 2nd-placed team gets automatic qualification to the World Cup and proceeds to the quarter-finals of the AFCON, while the 3rd-placed team would be out of the AFCON but still has the chance to qualify for the World Cup as one of the play-off teams.

The Black Starlets won the game with 2 goals in the first half, both by forward Joseph Narbi from spot kicks.

South Africa got one goal back in the first half, but Ghana got their 3rd in the second half through substitute midfielder Augustine Appiah.

A 4th goal for Ghana would have given them a goal advantage over Algeria and pushed them through to the quarter-finals of the AFCON and automatic qualification to the World Cup.

The Black Starlets headed into the encounter after picking up one point from their opening two games following a 2-2 draw against Algeria and a narrow defeat to Senegal.

LIVESTREAMING: Ghana vs South AFRICA (U17 AFCON)

Watch the game below:



BAI