Ghana’s Black Starlets kept their qualification hopes alive at the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a commanding 3–1 victory over South Africa in their final Group D match on Wednesday night at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé, Morocco.

Captain Joseph Narbi was the hero of the night, scoring twice from the penalty spot to guide Coach Prosper Narteh Ogum’s side to a crucial win after a difficult start to their group campaign.

Ghana went into the fixture under pressure, having drawn 2–2 with Algeria in their opening match before suffering a 1–0 defeat to a 10-man Senegal side, leaving them bottom of the group with just one point.

The Black Starlets made a strong start against South Africa and were awarded a penalty midway through the first half, which Narbi confidently converted to open the scoring.

The skipper doubled Ghana’s lead just before halftime, once again converting from the spot after South Africa conceded a second penalty, giving the Starlets a 2–0 advantage at the break.

South Africa pulled one back in the second half through Mhlongo, briefly raising hopes of a comeback as Ghana came under pressure to preserve their lead.

However, the Black Starlets held firm and sealed the victory in stoppage time with a well-taken counterattack goal to secure a 3–1 win and end South Africa’s qualification hopes.

Despite the victory, Ghana’s progression to the knockout stage remains uncertain. The Black Starlets finished level with Algeria on points, goal difference, and head-to-head record, forcing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine final standings through a draw of lots.

A second-place finish would see Ghana advance to the quarter-finals and secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. However, a third-place finish would eliminate them from the tournament, though they would still have a playoff route to the World Cup.