Ghana’s national U-15 boys’ team, the Black Comets, have finished seventh in the overall rankings at the maiden FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival held in Azerbaijan. The young Ghanaian side enjoyed an impressive campaign, recording eight victories in 10 matches, scoring 44 goals and finishing among the tournament’s top eight teams. The Black Comets started their campaign dominantly, winning all five matches in Group W to finish top with a perfect 15 points.
They scored 27 goals and conceded just three during the group stage. Their group-stage results included a 4-1 victory over Uzbekistan, a 7-1 win against Myanmar, 7-0 triumphs over Guam and the Bahamas, and a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan. Ghana continued their impressive run in the knockout stages, defeating South Korea 2-1 before recording an emphatic 5-2 victory over Mexico in the Round of 16. Shamsudeen Sulemana was the standout performer against Mexico, scoring four goals, while Abdul Aziz Issah also registered his name on the scoresheet. However, Ghana’s quest for a semi-final place ended in heartbreak after a 2-2 draw against Paraguay in the quarter-finals, with the South Americans advancing following a dramatic 7-6 penalty shootout victory. The Black Comets subsequently suffered a 7-1 defeat to Brazil in the fifth-to-eighth-place classification matches. Despite the setback, the Ghanaian youngsters responded positively in their final encounter, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Colombia to end their tournament on a winning note. Ghana eventually finished seventh in the overall standings, behind Spain, Czechia, Greece, Paraguay, Brazil and Guinea. Spain topped the final rankings, with Czechia and Greece occupying second and third positions respectively. Although the Black Comets fell short of reaching the semi-finals, their eight victories and impressive 44-goal tally in 10 matches represent a remarkable outing for the young Ghanaian team at the inaugural competition. The performance also provides an encouraging foundation for the continued development of Ghana’s next generation of football talents.
