Yusif Basigi, head coach of Ghana’s U20 women’s national team, the Black Princesses, has disclosed that his players were driven by the desire to please fans, which fueled their motivation during the 2023 African Games semifinal clash against Senegal.
In a commanding display, the Black Princesses secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Monday night, setting the stage for a final showdown with Nigeria.
Following the match, Basigi revealed that the presence of a sizable crowd at the stadium served as an inspiration for his players. He emphasized the importance of not disappointing the fans and urged his team to secure a victory.
“With the fans around, they were so enthused to do a lot to also make them happy. I told them they cannot disappoint their fans so they have to win,” Basigi remarked.
In the game itself, Ghana took the lead through Tracey Twum’s goal in the 18th minute, followed by Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah’s strike just before halftime to double the advantage.
Although Senegal managed to pull one back from the penalty spot early in the second half, Ghana swiftly responded, with Amponsah sealing her brace with another goal to restore the two-goal lead.
With this impressive victory, Ghana’s Black Princesses have booked their place in the final, where they are set to face Nigeria on Thursday in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
