Basigi names team for FIFA U-20 WWC
Black Princesses coach, Yussif Basigi, has named his final squad for the FIFA U-20 women’s World Cup (WWC) in Columbia.
The list includes Auburn University’s shot stopper, Jenna Kayla Sarpong, and Alexandra Emefa Tay, a defender who plays for Seattle United ECNL.
Midfielder Stella Nyamekye is back in the squad having recovered from an injury that forced her to pull out of the African Games in March.
Mafia Nyame of AS FAR will lead the attack alongside Salamatu Abdulai and Mary Amponsah of Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will kick off in Columbia from August 31 to September 22.
Ghana is paired with Japan, Austria and New Zealand in Group E.
Ghana, a familiar foe at the Mundial is yet to make it out of the group stage of the biennial tournament but their pedigree remains as one of the best sides.
From 2010 to 2022, Ghana had been caged in the preliminary round, securing four wins out of the total 18 matches played.
Despite the unimpressive performance, the team remain confident of changing the narrative in this year’s competition.
With the likes of Comfort Yeboah, Mary Amponsah, Stella Nyamekye, Afi Amenyaku and some other big names, Ghana would be in safe hands to battle for the coveted trophy.
Yussif Basigi, Head Coach of the side in an interview with the GNA Sports said “We have been camping for the past three months preparing for this tournament. I must say we have done a lot to be able to prove ourselves. The players are ready for the task ahead.”
Mr Mustapha Ussif, Minister for Youth and Sports (MoYS), reiterated Government’s continuous support for the team as they embark on the long journey to Colombia.
Mr Kurt Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association, also charged the young squad to break new grounds after six previous unsuccessful attempts to advance beyond the group stage.
“Our story is already known to Ghanaians. Our history is already known to the world. We want to make a better story or write a better story. We want a much-improved history to be made. That should be the vision as we leave Ghana. The government has been supportive, like I said earlier, and will continue to provide all the necessary logistics that this team will need till the very end,” He added, he told the team ahead of their departure.
Ghana will open their campaign against Austria on September 2 before taking on Japan and New Zealand in the other group E matches. –GNA
