Accra, June 14, GNA - Ghana's Black Maidens suffered another setback in their bid to qualify for the first FIFA U-17 Women's World when they lost 1-2 to their Cameroonian counterparts on Saturday at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra.

A brace from striker Nchout Ajara cancelled out Mercy Myles opener to land the Maidens their second successive loss of the three-team qualifying series after a 4-2 earlier loss to Nigeria last week. The result puts the Maidens at the depth of the group, which has Nigeria and Cameroon as joint leaders on four points apiece. The free scoring Maidens, regarded as the nation's best hope of qualification to a major women's championship after the failure of their seniors, the Black Queens and Black Princesses started on a high note, giving initial indications of another maul.

Captain Myles set the almost empty stadium alive with the opening goal just after five minutes after intercepting a pass from a Cameroonian defender before firing past goalkeeper Jumbone "Toldo" Suleinne.

With their history of cricket score lines, the homers launched several incursions into the half of the visitors but lone striker Florence Dadson was short of ideas upfront.

The Cameroonians also made occasional inroads into the half of the Ghanaians half and succeeded in grabbing the equalizer on the half hour mark through Ajara.

Ajara who benefited from a long pass from Bebene Ariane made no mistake as she slotted past Maiden's goalie Patricia Martey, who along was on virtual holiday.

The Maidens resumed the second half strongly but still lacked the cutting edge to cause havoc with the likes of Myles and Dadson coming close on several occasions.

Despite the dominance of the Ghanaians, it was the Cameroonians who doubled got the winner through Ajara again in the 73rd minute when he connected home a cross from Ariane from a brilliant counter attack. The defenders of the visitors managed to thwart all the attacks of the Maidens getting to the last quarter of the games bt resorting to ballooning the balls with timely clearances to the dismay of Coach Abraham Allotey who exhausted his cards, but the result remained a dream.

Ghana would next play Nigeria on the weekend of June 27 to 29. The two placed teams at the end of the qualifiers will represent Africa at the championships to be staged in Chile later in the year.

Line Up: Ghana - Patricia Martey, Mercy Myles, Linda Eshun, Edem Atovor, Rosemary Ampomah, Ellen Coleman, Abena Amponsah, Elizabeth Addo, Juliet Achaempong, Florence dadson, Bless Amejoneku/Anne Harrison/

Line up -Cameroon: Junmbone Toldo Suleinne, Siewe Posine, Wafen Dyvale/Moudjoungue Rosalie, Ngendia Josephine, Lenko Yvonne, Elonga Carine, Tatehon Carine, Engananoti Gaelle, Bebene Ariane, Nchout Ajara, Akaba Henriette/Alla Jacqueline