Ghana's Under-17 team, the Black Starlets, were denied qualification to next year's Africa Under-17 Championship by Gambia after losing 2-0 in the return leg last qualifying round match on Saturday.

The Gambians secured the ticket on the away goal rule after losing 3-1 in the first leg played in Kumasi two weeks ago.

The Baby Scorpions have avenged defeat after their Under-20 side were bundled out of the Africa Youth Championship qualifiers by their Ghanaian counterparts.

This is a big blow for Ghana coach E. K Afranie who was seeking to improve Ghana's fourth-placed finish at the last Fifa World Cup in Korea.

This is the third time Ghana has failed to qualify for the Africa Under-17 Championship after crashing out in 2001 and 2003.