The Black Starlets of Ghana saw a commanding early advantage disappear as Algeria mounted a spirited second-half comeback to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw in a tense U-17 encounter in Rabat.
The West Africans appeared to be cruising towards victory after racing into a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes, but Algeria responded strongly after the break and came close to completing a remarkable turnaround.
The Black Starlets made an explosive start and needed only three minutes to open the scoring. Yao Gavi Robinho finished off a bright attacking move to put Ghana ahead and immediately hand his side control of the contest.
Ghana continued to press forward with confidence and doubled their advantage seven minutes later through a spectacular effort from Eric Adu Gyamfi. The midfielder struck from long range, sending the ball beyond the Algerian goalkeeper in what proved to be one of the standout moments of the match.
At 2-0 down before the opening stages had fully settled, Algeria struggled to cope with Ghana’s attacking pace and movement. The Black Starlets dominated possession and dictated the rhythm of the game throughout the remainder of the first half, looking composed and comfortable as they headed into the interval with a clear advantage.
However, the match changed dramatically after the restart.
Algeria returned for the second half with renewed intensity and quickly began putting Ghana under pressure. Their persistence paid off in the 57th minute when Benali scored to reduce the deficit and reignite hopes of a comeback for the North Africans.
The goal shifted momentum firmly in Algeria’s favour, and just three minutes later the hosts found an equaliser to complete a rapid recovery from two goals behind. The quick turnaround stunned Ghana and transformed what had seemed a straightforward evening for the Black Starlets into a nervy battle.
With confidence surging through the Algerian side, the pressure on Ghana continued to grow. The tension increased further in the 65th minute when Algeria were awarded a penalty following a VAR review.
The decision handed the hosts a major opportunity to complete the comeback and move ahead for the first time in the match. But Ghana were handed a lifeline when the resulting spot-kick was missed a minute later, ensuring the scores remained level.
The closing stages were played in an atmosphere of growing anxiety on both benches as each side searched for a decisive goal. Ghana, who had looked dominant during the opening half, were left frustrated by their inability to maintain control after the break.
For Algeria, the fightback highlighted the team’s resilience and determination after a difficult opening spell in which they had been overwhelmed by Ghana’s attacking quality.
In the end, the contest produced two sharply contrasting halves, one dominated by Ghana’s early brilliance and another driven by Algeria’s spirited response, leaving both teams with mixed emotions after an intense encounter in Rabat.
