Ghana’s Black Princesses have once again failed to progress beyond the group stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, extending their unwanted record to eight group-stage exits.

Since making their debut at the 2010 edition in Germany, the Black Princesses have qualified for every tournament they have been eligible for but have never reached the quarter-finals.

Their latest campaign at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland ended with Ghana finishing bottom of Group C after facing Ecuador, Korea Republic and France.

Ghana lost their opening game to Ecuador, defeated Korea Republic in their second match but suffered a 4-0 defeat to France in their final group game.

The latest elimination means Ghana’s wait for a first-ever knockout-stage appearance at the U-20 Women’s World Cup continues.

Ghana first competed at the tournament in 2010, where they were placed in Group D alongside the United States, South Korea and Switzerland.

The Black Princesses drew 1-1 with the USA, lost 4-2 to South Korea and beat Switzerland 2-0. They finished third with four points, behind the USA and South Korea, and were eliminated.

Two years later, Ghana returned for the 2012 tournament in Japan, again finding themselves in Group D. Their opponents were the USA, Germany and China.

It proved to be a difficult campaign as the Black Princesses lost all three matches,4-0 to the USA, 1-0 to Germany and 1-0 to China,finishing bottom without a point or a goal.

The 2014 edition in Canada produced one of Ghana’s strongest group-stage performances but still ended in disappointment.

Drawn in Group A with hosts Canada, Korea DPR and Finland, the Black Princesses beat Canada 1-0, lost 3-0 to Korea DPR and defeated Finland 2-1.

Ghana finished on six points, level with Korea DPR and Canada, but were eliminated on goal difference.

The GFA noted that it was the third successive tournament in which the Black Princesses had failed to reach the knockout stage.

At the 2016 World Cup in Papua New Guinea, Ghana were drawn in Group C with France, the USA and New Zealand.

The Black Princesses drew 2-2 with France, lost 1-0 to New Zealand and drew 1-1 with the USA. They finished fourth in the group with two points and were eliminated.

The 2018 tournament in France followed a similar pattern. Ghana were drawn in Group A alongside hosts France, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

They lost 4-1 to France and 4-0 to the Netherlands before ending their campaign with a 1-0 victory over New Zealand.

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The victory was not enough to keep their campaign alive, as France and the Netherlands occupied the two qualifying places.

FIFA described it as the fifth time in five attempts that Ghana had failed to reach the last eight.

After the 2020 tournament was cancelled, the Black Princesses returned at the 2022 edition in Costa Rica, where they were placed in Group D with holders Japan, the Netherlands and the USA.

Ghana lost 3-0 to the USA, 4-1 to the Netherlands and 2-0 to Japan. The three defeats left the Black Princesses bottom of the group and eliminated them before the knockout stage.

FIFA reported that Ghana’s early elimination extended their record of failing to advance from the group phase.

The 2024 World Cup in Colombia was Ghana’s seventh consecutive qualification. The Black Princesses were drawn in Group E with Japan, Austria and New Zealand.

FIFA noted before the tournament that Ghana were yet to progress from the group stage.

Ghana eventually finished third in the group and were eliminated, despite recording a victory during the campaign.

That brought the Black Princesses to Poland for the 2026 tournament, but the outcome remained unchanged.

Ghana were drawn in Group C alongside France, Korea Republic and Ecuador. After losing to Ecuador, Ghana bounced back with a win over Korea Republic before France ended their hopes with a 4-0 victory.

The result leaves Ghana with a remarkable but unwanted World Cup record

2010 – Group stage
 2012 – Group stage
 2014 – Group stage
 2016 – Group stage
 2018 – Group stage
 2022 – Group stage
 2024 – Group stage
 2026 – Group stage

The Black Princesses have therefore made eight appearances and suffered eight group-stage eliminations, without ever reaching the quarter-finals.

Their closest opportunity came in 2014, when they collected six points from three matches but were denied a historic last-eight appearance on goal difference.

PAH/JKB

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