Head coach of the Black Maidens Joe Nana Adarkwa has said they are mentally prepared to challenge Brazil as they seek to revive their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign following a disappointing start to their return to the global tournament.
The Maidens face the South Americans in their second Group C fixture on today, October 21, knowing that an improved results will be crucial to keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Adarkwa’s team suffered a 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening match, while Brazil announced their attacking credentials with a convincing 6-2 victory over Canada to take an early lead in the group.
Despite the contrasting results, the Ghana coach insists his players have put the setback behind them and are approaching the encounter with renewed confidence.
“Psychologically, the team is in a good place. The atmosphere in training is at a high level, and we have nothing to complain about. The energy is positive, and the focus is sharp.”
Joe Nana Adarkwa, Head coach of the Black Maidens
The fixture is scheduled for 18:00 GMT at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Morocco, where Ghana will need to show greater composure and efficiency against an opponent that demonstrated its ability to overwhelm defences in the opening round.
Finishing Remains a Concern
Ghana’s defeat to Norway exposed a major shortcomings in their attacking play, with the team struggling to turn promising situations into meaningful scoring opportunities and goals.
Norway took control early through Isabella Lepore’s long-range strike in the sixth minute before Maia Melgård doubled the advantage seven minutes later. Melgård added a second goal late in the match to complete a memorable 3-0 victory.
Adarkwa acknowledged that his players failed to make the most of their opportunities and admitted that their reluctance to shoot was a major concern. The coach revealed that the technical team had reviewed the performance and placed particular emphasis on shooting during training sessions.
“Our match against Norway exposed a critical area we must address: our finishing. We couldn’t shoot, and quite frankly, I don’t know why the players hesitated. In a game situation, you cannot expect players to walk the ball to the post. No coach will accept that.”
“As we turn the page and look ahead to our crucial match against Brazil, I want to be direct about where we stand. We played our best against Norway, but our best was not enough. That is football. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. We have no excuses. We lost, and we accept it. Now, our entire focus is on the next game.”
Joe Nana Adarkwa, Black Maidens head coach
Adarkwa added that the team has analysed the mistakes and worked on improving their finishing, expressing confidence that the players would translate their training efforts into a stronger performance against Brazil.
Goalkeeping is another area the coach has been assessing, although he insisted that the squad has sufficient quality in that department. He said a final decision on his starting goalkeeper would be made after consultations with his technical staff.
Brazil’s Attack Presents Major Test
Brazil will provide a considerably different challenge, having displayed impressive attacking fluidity in their opening victory over Canada.
The South Americans recovered from an early deficit to win 6-2, with Greise Kelly producing an outstanding individual performance involving two goals and three assists.
Helena equalised in first-half stoppage time before Nicolly Manuel and Marcela Bontorim scored after the break. Greise added two goals, while Pepê completed the scoring late in the match.
Brazil’s ability to respond after conceding first, combined with the movement and creativity of their forwards, will pose a significant test for Ghana’s defence.
The Black Maidens conceded three goals against Norway, raising questions about their defensive organisation ahead of a meeting with an opponent that scored six in its opener.
However, Brazil also showed that they can be troubled defensively, conceding twice against Canada. Ghana will need to exploit any similar openings while avoiding the hesitation in front of goal that undermined their first outing.
Black Maidens Must Prove They Belong
The tournament in Morocco marks Ghana’s return to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2018, ending an absence spanning three editions.
The Black Maidens have a proud history in the competition, having finished third in Azerbaijan in 2012. Their current campaign offers a new generation an opportunity to restore Ghana’s presence among the leading nations at youth level.
Norway’s opening victory was also historic. The Scandinavians entered the tournament without a win, a point or a goal in their previous appearance, but their triumph over Ghana delivered all three milestones alongside their first clean sheet.
With Brazil already demonstrating their threat, Ghana cannot afford another performance that leaves their attacking potential unrealised.
Adarkwa has made his expectations clear, insisting that victory is the primary objective, even as he recognises the difficulty of the task.
“Our objective for the Brazil match is simple and non-negotiable: we have to win at all costs. We cannot lose this match. A win or a draw will be okay, so that we can tackle the last match with a clear path forward. But make no mistake, we are going for the win.”
Joe Nana Adarkwa, Black Maidens HEad Coach
Ghana will conclude their Group C campaign against Canada on Saturday, October 24. A positive result against Brazil would provide a timely boost before that final fixture, while another defeat would leave their progression hopes under considerable pressure.
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