After a 3-0 opening loss to Norway, Ghana's young Black Maidens found their fire and roared back with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Brazil in Morocco.
Ghana's Black Maidens have shown real African grit at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, shaking off a heavy opening defeat to Norway and returning with a pulsating 3-3 draw against Brazil. Coach Joe Nana Adarkwa credits belief and encouragement for the turnaround.
Ghana began their Group C campaign with a 3-0 loss to Norway, and Adarkwa admitted the occasion overwhelmed his young side. The global stage was brand new to the players, he explained, and many of them simply did not know how to handle the demands of a World Cup. Rather than dwell on the result, the coaching staff sat the squad down, talked things through and lifted their spirits.
The message landed. Ghana conceded early for the second match running, going behind in the seventh minute against Brazil, but this time they refused to crumble. The Black Maidens fought back to take the lead and produced one of the most entertaining games of the group stage, before Brazil rallied to level and share the points.
Adarkwa believes that response reflects the work invested in the group over the past two years. Building a resilient, fearless team takes time, and the performance against Brazil suggested the foundations are solid. For a squad of tournament newcomers, learning fast on the biggest stage is a major step, and Ghana will carry that confidence into the rest of their campaign.
