The Ghana Under-20 female team, Black Princesses, has exited yet another FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup despite a 3:1 victory over New Zealand in Group E.
After losing the first two games of the tournament, the Black Princesses were in contention for a place in the next round as one of the best third-placed finishers but Argentina’s win earlier in the day meant that both New Zealand and Ghana were eliminated from the knock-out stage calculations.
The Black Princesses were looking to make it past the group stage for the first time in history, having qualified for the biennial tournament for the 7th straight time; but defeats to Austria and Japan made that dream an impossibility.
Ghana lost to Austria by 2-1 in its opening game and got humiliated by 4-1 by Japan before securing a noble three points with a win over New Zealand in a consolation win, hoping to reduce the backlash from the Ghanaian sports community for the abysmal performance.
In the game that took place late Sunday night, a key player to the team, Beline Nyarkoh, had the earlier chance in the 15th minute; but her effort was blocked off for a corner kick. Fast forward, Salamatu Abdullai’s solo run at goal was ruled out for offside to deny Ghana the lead in the 23rd minute.
After a goalless first half, they came into the second half as the more determined side to win the game. Wasiima Mohammed’s cross from a corner kick was slotted home by Salamatu Abdulai to give the Princesses the lead in the 59th minute. But a defensive blunder handed New Zealand the equaliser in the 63rd minute.
Jennifer Owusuwaa was guilty of a glaring miss from a header to put Ghana in the lead. Ghana’s second goal owed plenty to the impressive Stella Nyamekye, who provided a cross that was met by Abdulai Salamatu, with the opposition goalkeeper Madeleine Iro unable to reach her looping header.
Tracey Twum replaced Jennifer Owusuwaa, whose first touch resulted in the 3rd goal in the 94th minute as Ghana ended the group with a 3-1 win and in third place with 3 points, while New Zealand finished bottom after three straight defeats.
The Black Princesses’ captain, Stella Nyamekye, was adjudged the VISA Player of The Match award-winner against New Zealand. This is Ghana’s first VISA Player of the Match award in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Dreamz Ladies midfielder provided the assists for Ghana’s second goal scored by Salamatu Abdullai and was a threat in the entire game with her sublime skills and dexterity in the heart of the pitch.
She scored two goals in the group stages, one each against Austria and Japan. She is by far the best player on the team in the competition, demonstrating why she deserves the armband.
