The Black Princesses have departed Accra for Uganda, determined to finish the job and book Ghana’s place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, while the Black Starlets have also left for Morocco carrying a strong message of resilience from Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku.
A 23-player Black Princesses squad, together with the technical team, left the country ahead of Saturday’s decisive second-leg qualifier against Uganda at the FUFA Stadium in Kampala.
The Princesses head into the clash with a slender 2-1 advantage after producing a spirited comeback victory in the first leg at the Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday.
After falling behind in the opening half, Ghana responded strongly after the break, with Priscilla Mensah and Latifa Abesik scoring second-half goals to overturn Uganda’s lead and place Ghana in pole position for qualification.
Victory over the East Africans would secure Ghana an eighth consecutive appearance at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be staged in Poland.
Before the team’s departure, Mr Okraku visited the squad at their Erata Hotel training base in Accra to rally the players and reinforce the significance of the moment.
“The moment we have been waiting for is finally here — that one game where we have to give a million per cent to make everyone excited about what we have in this team,” he told the players.
The GFA President also reminded the squad of the Black Princesses’ proud World Cup pedigree and urged them to protect that legacy.
“This team has historically always made it to the World Cup, and I believe history will continue when you play this last game against Uganda,” he added, while assuring the team of the Football Association’s full support.
Starlets off to Rabat
Meanwhile, Ghana’s U-17 side, Black Starlets, have also departed for the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, Morocco, buoyed by a passionate send-off from the FA President.
Addressing the players and officials at the Kotoka International Airport before departure, Mr Okraku challenged the team to embrace a fearless mentality and develop a “never say die” spirit ahead of the continental tournament.
Drawing inspiration from the Starlets’ recent friendly matches against Côte d’Ivoire, where the team bounced back emphatically after losing the first encounter, he stressed the importance of mental toughness and unity.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Côte d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to come back — not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said.
“I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads — that it’s not over until it’s all over.”
Mr Okraku emphasised that resilience and togetherness would be vital in a fiercely competitive tournament environment, urging the players to support each other when the pressure rises.
The Black Starlets have been drawn in a difficult Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal and South Africa, with their opening fixture against Algeria scheduled for May 14.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh