Ghana’s Black Maidens suffered a 3–0 defeat to Norway in their opening Group C fixture at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco on October 18, 2026.
Norway produced an impressive attacking performance, scoring twice in the first half before adding a third goal late in the second half to secure all three points.
Norway’s Goal Scorers
- 6th minute – Isabella Lepore: Lepore opened the scoring with a powerful long-range strike from approximately 30 yards, giving Norway an early advantage.
- 13th minute – Maia Melgård: Melgård doubled Norway’s lead with a curling left-footed effort after combining with Hanne Nesse.
- 80th minute – Maia Melgård: Melgård completed her brace with another superb finish following a well-worked corner routine.
Ghana Struggle Against Norway
Ghana’s Black Maidens found themselves under pressure after conceding twice within the opening 13 minutes. Despite efforts to fight back in the second half, the Ghanaian side struggled to convert their opportunities into goals.
Substitute Cynthia Nana Yaa Obinsrewuo came close to reducing the deficit, but Norway goalkeeper Erla Braathen denied her with an important save.
Melgård’s second goal in the 80th minute sealed the victory for Norway and capped an impressive individual performance.
Norway Make a Strong Start
The victory marked an important milestone for Norway, who secured their first-ever win at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Melgård was named Player of the Match after scoring twice.
For Ghana, the defeat was a disappointing start to the campaign. The Black Maidens will need to regroup and improve their attacking efficiency as they continue their Group C journey.
Full-time result: Norway U-17 3–0 Ghana U-17
Competition: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026
Group: C
Norway’s scorers: Isabella Lepore (6′), Maia Melgård (13′, 80′).
Player of the Match: Maia Melgård (Norway).
Source: FIFA and CAF.
