Ghana U-17 women’s head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has expressed pride in his players despite their 1-0 defeat to Japan in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
The defeat brings an end to the Black Maidens’ campaign, having fallen short of their ambition to surpass the semi-final achievement of Ghana’s 2012 team in Azerbaijan.
Despite the disappointing exit, Adarkwa praised his players for their determination, commitment and fighting spirit throughout the tournament, insisting that the team had given its best.
“We did our best, but we’re happy at the end of the journey. We didn’t give up. We’re proud of ourselves, and I’m proud of that,” he said.
The Ghana coach has urged the players to return home, work harder and use the experience gained from the competition as motivation to improve ahead of future tournaments.
“We go back home, work harder and see what happens. We’ll be here next year,” he added.
