Ghana’s Black Maidens suffered a disappointing start to their 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign after losing 3-0 to Norway in their opening Group C fixture in Morocco on Sunday.

Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa’s side conceded twice within the opening 13 minutes at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, leaving the Ghanaian team with an uphill task for the remainder of the encounter.

Norway made a fast start to the contest, taking advantage of their early opportunities to establish a commanding position and put the Black Maidens under immediate pressure.

The two quick goals forced Ghana to chase the game, with the West African side struggling to find a breakthrough against a well-organised Norwegian defence.

Despite their efforts to mount a response after the interval, the Black Maidens could not translate their attacking attempts into goals as Norway maintained their advantage.

The European side eventually put the result beyond doubt in the 80th minute, scoring a third goal to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory and claim maximum points in their opening Group C match.

The defeat leaves Ghana with work to do as they prepare for their remaining group-stage fixtures against Brazil and Canada.

The Black Maidens returned to the competition after missing the previous edition, with hopes of making a strong impression on their return to the global stage.

Ghana have a proud history in the tournament, having won bronze in 2012 and reached the quarter-finals on three occasions.

Adarkwa’s team must now quickly regroup ahead of their next assignment against Brazil on Wednesday, October 21. The match is scheduled for 18:00 GMT at the Women’s Football Complex in Rabat.

Ghana will need to improve their defensive organisation and attacking efficiency to secure a positive result against the South American side and keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage alive.

Their final Group C fixture will be against Canada on Saturday, October 24, at 15:00 GMT, in what could prove a crucial encounter in determining their fate at the tournament.