Ghana dampen its chances of reaching the FIFA women’s U-20 World Cup for the first time after losing to Nigeria at home in the first leg of the two-leg fixture.

The Black Princesses lost 3-2 to Nigeria’s Falconets on Friday at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra in the first leg tie of the final round qualifiers.

Ghana surrendered a two-goal first half lead as the Falconets rallied back in the second half to draw level and go ahead to win the game.

Striker Anita Amankwah and captain Diana Ankomah put Ghana in the lead to end the first half 2-0 up.

Second half substitute Orji Ebere reduced the deficit for the Falconets on 66 minutes before Sarah Michael got the equalizer five minutes from time.

But with two minutes left on the clock, Rebecca Kalu stunned the sparse crowd when she scored the match winner after connecting from a cross.

Nigeria would hosts the second leg in a fortnight with the winner over the two-leg tie picking one of Africa’s two places FIFA U-20 World Cup to be hosted by Chile later in the year.