Ghana missed a first-half penalty to draw 0-0 with hosts Niger on Wednesday in their opening match at the zonal U17 AFCON qualifiers in Niamey.

The Black Starlets dominated play and should have taken the lead in the first period.

Samuel Appiah surprisingly fired over the bar from 18 yards in the 43rd minute.

In the 51st minute, Niger goalkeeper parried a snapshot from inside the box and on 89 minutes he made another save.

Ghana will play their final match against Togo with the winner topping the group.