Africa’s representatives at the ongoing 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica got their campaigns underway yesterday with mixed results.
The Black Princesses of Ghana begun their campaign on bad note, falling heavily to USA by 3-0 in their opening game.
Michelle Cooper opened the scoring for the USA after just 11 minutes, heading into the net from close range after Elaine Rouse’s well-timed cross.
20 minutes after, the Princesses were handed another misery as Jacqueline Owusu was shown a red card for a reckless challenge on the opposition’s player after an extensive VAR check.
Ben Fokuo’s team was far from its best in the opening half of the game as it failed to keep up with the tempo of the Americans.
Alyssa Thompson was on hand to double the lead for USA seven minutes away from the break, as she connected well with a low cross from the left wing.
Back from recess, Ghana was hopeful of reducing the deficit as Coach Ben Fokuo made some substitutions with Sharon Sampson making way for Mukarama Abdulai.
However, six minutes into the second half, Alysson Sentnor scored the third goal of the game to put the game beyond the reach of Ghana. The Princesses could have been reduced to 9 women but for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) that overturned an earlier red card handed Cecelia Nyama.
Despite creating loads of chances in the last quarter of the game, USA was unable to add to its tally as the game ended 3-0. The princess will now face Japan, who defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in other Group D match, on Sunday at 17:00 hrs GMT.
Ghana’s group comprises holders Japan, The Netherlands and three-time champions, United States. The Princesses have failed to progress beyond the group stages in all their five previous appearances and a similar fate stair them at the face in this edition.
Falconets beat France
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Falconets beat France 1-0 in the early hours of Friday, August 12, 2022 in Group C’s opening match at the 2022 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.
The only goal was scored late in the second half of the match by Falconets’ Flourish Sabastine. The Nigerians dominated the French, ending the game with 54% possession, 10 shots at goal with 3 on target. France had 8 shots at goal with only 3 on target but could not find the back of the net.
Nigeria’s next game is against South Korea on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at 8 pm GMT.
Nigeria will play France, Canada and Korea in Group C of the 16-nation tournament which begun on August 10 while 2018 runners-up, Spain, battles with host Costa Rica, Australia and Brazil in Group A.
Germany, which has also won the competition three times, including 2010 and 2014 when it beat Nigeria in the final, will play Colombia, New Zealand and Mexico in Group B.
All group phase and quarter-final matches will be played at the Alejandro Morera Soto, which is a hybrid of natural and synthetic grass called stitched grass. The semi-final, final and third place matches will take place at the Estadio Nacional.
The Falconets scaled the hurdles presented by Central African Republic, Congo, Cameroon and Senegal, winning six of seven matches (they only drew with Cameroon in Douala) to be eligible to fly Africa’s flag once more at the finals in Central America.
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