The Black Princesses of Ghana beat their Nigerian counterparts in the final of the WAFU Zone B Under-20 Girls Cup of Nations at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Played under floodlights, the game travelled to penalty shoot-out after both countries scored a goal each within 90 minutes of fierce exchanges.
Stella Nyamekye opened the scoring for Ghana in the 34th minute, stepping up from the spot after Comfort Owusu was fouled in the box.
The Dreams Ladies’ midfielder netted her fourth goal of the tournament to give Ghana the lead.
Ghana looked certain to wrap up the game in the second half as they held onto their lead and kept the Nigerians at bay.
But with five minutes away from the final signal, the Nigerians got their equaliser after a miscommunication between goalkeeper, Afi Amenyaku and the defence.
Flourish Sabastine took advantage and cancelled the lead. The Nigerians could have carried the day, but Georgina Ayisha Aoyem’s effort came off the crossbar on the stroke of full time.
During the penalties shootout, Ghana’s Afi Amenyaku made three saves from four takes to seal the victory for the Black Princesses with Mary Amponsah scoring the winning penalty.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, KUMASI
