Ghana's Black Starlets have been eliminated from the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable after losing out on the draw of the lots to Algeria.
After a 3-1 victory over South Africa in their final group game, Ghana were denied a place in the quarter-finals when a coin toss went against them following a stalemate in every conceivable tiebreaker with Algeria.
Algeria lost 2-1 to Senegal across the other side of the group, which meant that when the final whistle blew on both matches, Ghana and Algeria had ended the group stage level on points, level on goal difference, level on goals scored, and level in their head-to-head record, having drawn 2-2 when they met in the opening match.
Assistant coach Jacob Nartey represented Ghana at the draw of the lots, an outcome which sent Algeria through and Ghana out.
It was a cruel, clinical and almost unbearable way to exit a tournament that had promised so much when the Black Starlets arrived in Morocco nine years after their last U-17 AFCON appearance.
Ghana did everything asked of them in their final group fixture against South Africa. The Black Starlets produced their most complete performance of the tournament, running out 3-1 winners.
A brace from Joseph Narbi in the first half put Ghana in pole position at half-time. However, Thandanani Mhlongo's goal against the round of play gave South Africa some much needed momentum.
Ghana capitalised on South Africa being reduced to 10-men as second half substitue Augustine Appiah made it 3-1, a goal that levelled the goal difference with Algeria.
Unfortunately, Ghana are now eliminated from the competition and will look back at the missed chances against South Africa managing 36 shots with 12 of them on target.
A Nine-year wait that ends in heartbreak
This tournament marked Ghana's return to the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2017.
The Black Starlets have a proud history in the competition, having won it in 1995 and 1999 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
But absences in multiple recent editions have highlighted the inconsistency that has plagued Ghanaian youth football development.
They opened the group with a 2-2 draw against Algeria after going up by two goals. In their second match against Senegal, Ghana had an early goal ruled out by VAR in the eighth minute before Senegal were reduced to 10 men.
Ghana then missed a penalty and were ultimately undone by Ibrahima Dione's counter-attacking goal in the 57th minute, losing 1-0 in a game they controlled for long periods without reward.
A second chance: The World Cup Play-off
The elimination from the AFCON is not, however, the end of the road. CAF's expanded format offers third-placed teams a route to the FIFA U-17 World Cup through playoff matches, and Ghana will take that opportunity.
The Black Starlets will face Uganda in a World Cup play-off. This fixture will carry its own fascinating subplot as Uganda are coached by Laryea Kingston, the former Ghana international and one-time Black Starlets coach who knows this group and this age group intimately.
Kingston will be well aware of the qualities Ghana possess. The Black Starlets, bruised by tonight's outcome but not broken, will need to summon everything they have in what is now a straight shootout for a place at the U-17 World Cup.