Black Starlets lose to Morocco in second friendly on final whistle

Morocco’s U-17 team snatched a 2-1 win over Ghana’s Black Starlets in their second friendly at Rabat, with the winning goal arriving on the final play. The hosts opened scoring in the 11th minute after a flawed clearance by Ghana’s goalkeeper, but Ghana struck back through a stunning free-kick by Yaw Acheampong in the 75th minute to level the match.

The Black Starlets were reduced to ten men when captain Abdul Rafiu Issah received his marching orders for a heavy challenge, yet they pressed for an equaliser and created chances through Issah Alidu, who twice found himself one-on-one with the Moroccan keeper before halftime. The Ghanaian side showed resilience despite the numerical disadvantage, holding firm until Morocco’s counter-attack converted the last chance of the game.

Gavi Robinho’s potential winning shot was blocked in the box, sparing Ghana further heartbreak, but the hosts capitalised on the ensuing corner to strike as the final whistle approached. The narrow defeat ties the two-match series, following Ghana’s 2-0 victory in the first encounter, and concludes their overseas preparations.

The fixtures serve as vital tune-ups for the upcoming WAFU Zone B U-17 Championship, which doubles as the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with final squad selection looming.