FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup: Côte d’Ivoire marches to first-ever global stage

Even before kick-off, the stakes were monumental: neither Côte d’Ivoire nor Guinea had ever experienced the thrill of qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Holding a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire knew that an early goal could take the wind out of their opponent’s sails. It was Rolande N’Guessan, already a standout throughout the qualifiers, who struck in the opening minutes—putting the Éléphantelles in an ideal position.

But Guinea, far from giving up, threw everything into the match to change their fate. Aïssatou Diallo first gave her team renewed hope, before Samira Zaddy sent the Guinean camp into celebration by making it 2-1. A dramatic turnaround—but not quite enough.

In this tightly contested battle, it was the away goals rule that ultimately tipped the scales. Thanks to N’Guessan’s crucial strike, Côte d’Ivoire secured their first-ever qualification for a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, despite the loss.

After a two-legged tie where both teams had their moments, the Éléphantelles can celebrate a historic milestone. The stage is now set for next autumn in Morocco, where they will look to carry this inspiring journey even further.