U-17 AFCON: Black Starlets Frustrated by Algeria After Early Two-Goal Lead; South Africa Edges Senegal

Ghana’s national Under-17 football team, the Black Starlets, began their quest for continental glory at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Algeria. Competing in their opening Group D fixture in Morocco, the Starlets displayed early brilliance but ultimately shared the spoils after a spirited second-half resurgence from the North Africans. The result leaves the group finely balanced as teams vie for a spot in the knockout stages of the prestigious youth tournament.

The match started with a burst of energy from the Ghanaians, who raced into a two-goal lead within the first ten minutes. Yao Gavi Robinho opened the scoring in the second minute with a clinical close-range finish, and Eric Adu Gyamfi doubled the advantage shortly after with a spectacular long-range volley that stunned the Algerian defense. Despite controlling the tempo for much of the first half, the Black Starlets were unable to maintain their momentum after the break. Algeria responded aggressively in the second half, with Adam Benali and Zaidi finding the net to level the score. The Algerians nearly completed a full comeback, but Ilyas Grini failed to convert a late penalty, sparing Ghana from a defeat in their tournament opener.

In the other Group D encounter, South Africa secured a vital 2-1 victory over Senegal at the Mohammed VI Football Academy. Although Senegal took an initial lead through Cheikh Thior, the South Africans rallied in the second half. Inganathi Simama provided the equalizer before an unfortunate own goal by Thior handed South Africa the win. These results place South Africa at the top of the group standings, highlighting the competitive nature of the pool as Ghana and Algeria sit tied for second with one point each.

Beyond Group D, the tournament has already produced individual standout performances, notably from Angola’s 16-year-old goalkeeper, Gelson Dala. Dala was named Man of the Match after a heroic display against Mali, where he made six crucial saves to secure a goalless draw for his side. As the competition progresses, the Black Starlets must now turn their attention to a critical showdown against Senegal on May 17. With South Africa currently leading the pack, Ghana’s next performance will be decisive in determining their trajectory in the 2026 U-17 AFCON.