Ghana’s female Under-20 team hammered their compatriots from Cameroon with three goals at a half filled Cape Coast Stadium to qualify to a fifth consecutive FIFA Under-20 Female World Cup which will come on later November 2018 at France.
FC Minsk midfielder Ernestina Abambila 15th minute goal, Ampem Darkoa Ladies attacker and skipper of the U-20 Priscilla Adubea 41st minute strike and Sandra Owusu Ansah’s 78th minute close range were enough as Ghana urged out Cameroon with a 4:1 aggregate victory after the first leg ended 1:1 at Yaounde.
Ghana will again be represented at the World Stage and again another chance to try and make it out of the group face for the first time after failing to make the quarter final in all of the previous appearances at the mundial.
Below were some reasons that played to the advantage of the Black Princesses against the Les Indomitable Lioness.
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Coach Yusif Basigi understanding of the Women’s Game.
Arguably the most achieved female football coach in the country. The former Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies Coach has three National Women’s League titles to his name and as the coach of the Black Queens snatched the gold medal in the 2015 All African Games at Maputo, Mozambique.
Basigi has a huge task which is to at least ensure Ghana’s U-20 side are able to make it out of the Group Phase in France for the first time in the country’s history.
It looks Basigi has well accepted the challenge.
Even at 3:0 up Yusif’s uneasiness on the touchline was very visible to all – he was constantly churning out instructions to the team’s number 1[Martha Annan].
But Yusif is heading to a big job, which is to break through and better the nation’s lots at this year’s world cup.
2. A collection 0f players wanting to do more.
At least these current crop of players have a will which topple that of the previous team’s effort. They are aware of the long standing inability to ensure a second stage berth and are buoyed by the need to at least break that voodoo.
About 80 percent of the current crop of players were at the 2016 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, held at Jordan – after failing to beat Japan in the opening game, wins against USA and Paraguay meant the Black Maidens advanced out of the group phase only to be knocked out by North Korea at the quarter final stage – they are aware of the stakes this time.
Yes, with that in mind, these current machinery look up for the task and showed that against the Cameroonians at the Cape Coast Stadium. The trio of Ernestina Abambila, Grace Asantewaa and Grace Acheampong are a combination of hardwork and creativity in the heart of the team’s midfield.
Priscilla Adubea who has had a spell of two incredible seasons in the National Women’s League for Ampem Darkoa Ladies scored an outstanding 10 goals in the qualifying campaign and had two goals in both ties against the Cameroonians.
The Back Four was just resolute; Gladys Amfobea, Justice Tweneboah, Philicity Asouako and Blessing Agbomazi just gave the right cover for shotstopper Martha Annan.
And again a rich bench of Rafia Alhassan Kulchire, Sandra Owusu Ansah.
3. The support before and on the day
The Cape Coast Stadium was partly filled, a scene at Women’s Football that has to be applauded. The students from University of Cape Coast Secondary School and University Practice Secondary School who flooded the venue to back the Black Princesses were amazing as they stood lit with cheers till the final whistle.
The call from the nation’s first lady Hon. Rebecca Akufo-Addo was another wake up call.
First Lady Rebecca Akuffo-Addo throws massive support for @ghanafaofficial Black Princesses ahead of their world cup qualifier on Saturday pic.twitter.com/7MfTC7zRsF
— Min. of Youth & Sports GH (@MOYSGh) January 26, 2018
The Ministry of Youth and Sports did what hasn’t been of them in a long while.
Our Princesses need our full support on Saturday at the Cape Coast Stadium when they come against Cameroon for the World Cup slot in France.
Let's make it easy for the 'Girls'! @SaddickAdams @GhSportsmaster @nhyirasports1 @CitiSportsGHA @adamadjei pic.twitter.com/TidJeUlOpM
— Min. of Youth & Sports GH (@MOYSGh) January 25, 2018
Backing from some senior national team players, Black Queens players.
Good Luck to the Black Princesses today against Cameroon. All the best Ladies, Make Ghana Proud 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RNFffoM8Ru
— Elizabeth Addo (@AmaPele10) January 27, 2018
Well done lads (Black Princesses) it beautiful to stay strong and Unity.. We’re proud of you🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭👏👏👏👏
— Linda Eshun3 (@EshunLee20) January 27, 2018
People of Cape Coast did well covering up the empty seats to incite some level of panic in the opponent. The other two national women’s teams were around to also ensure the goals were enough to take Ghana to France 2018.
George Nitro Duah/beachfmonline.com/Ghana-Takoradi
Images via V3Images
