Ghana’s U-15 girls’ team, the Black Damsels, etched their names into the history books on Saturday, April 26, claiming the 2025 African Schools Football Championship title with a 2-0 victory over Uganda at the University of Ghana Stadium.
Belinda Kpentey and Daniella Abass were the heroes of the day, each scoring to cap off a stellar tournament run for the young Ghanaians.
The Black Damsels entered the final brimming with confidence after an unbeaten group-stage campaign that included wins against Morocco, Benin, and Malawi.
Their momentum continued into the semifinals, where they edged out defending champions South Africa in a thrilling encounter to reach the championship match.
Uganda also impressed on their way to the final, securing their spot after defeating Morocco in the semis.
The final almost started on a sour note for Ghana, as an early error by goalkeeper Precious nearly gifted Uganda an opening goal.
However, the visitors failed to capitalise, and Ghana quickly seized control of the game. Daniella Abass and Hajara Adam came close to opening the scoring, but the teams went into halftime deadlocked.
After the break, Ghana’s determination shone through. Belinda Kpentey broke the stalemate following a brilliant solo effort by Christiana Ashiaku, who sprinted onto a loose ball, beat her defenders, and set up Kpentey for the finish.
Daniella Abass then sealed the victory, showcasing her composure with a clinical run and finish to double Ghana’s lead.
Uganda fought back, seeking a way into the game, but Ghana’s defence stood tall, ensuring a famous and emotional triumph — made even more remarkable as it was the Damsels’ debut appearance in the competition.
As champions, Ghana’s U-15 girls will be awarded a $300,000 cash prize, while the runners-up, Uganda, will receive $200,000. Third-place finishers in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will each take home $150,000.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s U-15 boys team also ended their campaign on a high, securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Uganda in the third-place playoff. Coached by Kwaku Danso, the boys showed great resilience, overcoming a halftime deficit to clinch the bronze medal at the same venue.
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