Ghana's U-17 girls face a win-or-out showdown with Canada, and coach Joe Nana Adarkwa says there is no Plan B.
Ghana's Black Maidens are staring at a straight knockout moment at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Beat Canada on Saturday, October 24, or pack their bags. Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has made it plain: there is no alternative to victory.
Kickoff in the decisive Group B clash is at 3:00pm GMT, and only three points will keep Ghana's hopes of reaching the next stage alive. Adarkwa says his squad has felt the weight of the occasion and answered it on the training ground, where spirits and intensity have stayed high. "They know what is at stake," he said, insisting that a win is the only acceptable outcome.
There is real momentum to build on. After opening the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Norway, Ghana showed serious character against Brazil, fighting back to claim a thrilling 3-3 draw and their first point of the competition. It was a wild, entertaining contest, and it proved this young group can punch back when pressed against the wall.
Adarkwa wants that same fearlessness carried into the Canada game, with sharper execution added to the mix. The plan is to keep doing what worked against Brazil, polish the rough edges, and finish the job. Without a win, he admits, Ghana cannot escape the group. For the Black Maidens, it comes down to one night and ninety minutes.
