Black Maidens assistant coach Bashiru-Deen Sumaila is confident Ghana can overcome Argentina in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco and secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The two sides are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, October 28, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, with Ghana seeking to build on the momentum from their crucial victory over Canada in the group stage.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Sumaila expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, insisting that the players are prepared to deliver the performance required to progress.
“The girls are very poised and ready for the game. It’s going to be a very good game, and we will win. We are going to give our best tomorrow, and success shall be ours.”
Bashiru-Deen Sumaila, Black Maidens assistant coach
Ghana head into the contest encouraged by their recovery from an opening defeat to Norway and a subsequent draw against Brazil, results that left their qualification hopes dependent on a strong finish to the group stage.
The Black Maidens responded by defeating Canada 2-0 in their final Group C fixture, securing second place with four points and setting up a meeting with Argentina, who progressed from Group A as runner-up.
The encounter represents another opportunity for Ghana to demonstrate their pedigree at the tournament, having previously reached the quarter-finals in 2014, 2016 and 2018, alongside their historic third-place finish in 2012.
Sumaila Highlights Lessons From Group Stage
Sumaila acknowledged that Ghana’s opening 3-0 defeat to Norway forced the technical team and players to reassess their approach as they sought to remain competitive in the tournament. “It woke up both the technical staff and the playing body,” he explained, reflecting on the impact of the defeat.
The assistant coach also pointed to missed opportunities as a significant factor in the opening performance, suggesting that Ghana could have achieved a better result had they been more clinical in front of goal. “We could have won the game [against Norway], but we missed a lot of chances,” he admitted.
The technical team subsequently worked on improving the players’ decision-making in attacking positions and ensuring that promising opportunities are converted into goals.
Those adjustments were evident in Ghana’s response against Brazil, where the Black Maidens recovered to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw after their opening setback.
They then produced a decisive performance against Canada, with substitutes Linda Achiaa and Christiana Ashiaku scoring in the second half to secure the victory.
Achiaa broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, while Ashiaku added a second in stoppage time, ensuring Ghana finished the group stage strongly and advanced to the knockout rounds.
Video Analysis Shapes Argentina Preparations
With their attention now firmly on Argentina, Sumaila revealed that the technical team has studied their opponents and worked with the players to identify the areas requiring particular attention.
“We’ve watched Argentina. We had the time to have the girls watch whatever is supposed to be done, what they need to work around, and what we have to be very careful of.”
Bashiru-Deen Sumaila, Black Maidens Assistant Coach
He added that the preparations have involved examining Argentina’s strengths and developing a tactical approach intended to limit their effectiveness.
While declining to disclose the specific details of Ghana’s game plan, Sumaila stressed that the team has taken the necessary steps to prepare for the challenge.
The Black Maidens will need to combine tactical discipline with concentration and improved finishing if they are to progress against an opponent capable of punishing defensive mistakes.
Argentina, competing at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time, finished second in Group A after recording victories over New Zealand and hosts Morocco before losing to Germany.
The South Americans scored nine goals and conceded three across their three group matches, underlining the attacking threat Ghana must contain.
The 2026 tournament, running from October 17 to November 7, is the tenth edition of the competition and features 24 nations competing in Morocco.
For Ghana, victory would secure a fifth quarter-final appearance in the tournament’s history and mark their first appearance in the last eight since 2018, when they drew 2-2 with Mexico before losing 4-2 on penalties.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Sumaila believes the Black Maidens have the preparation and determination required to overcome Argentina and continue their World Cup campaign.
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