Yusif Basigi, the coach of Ghana’s U-20 female team, the Black Princesses, is full of confidence in his squad’s ability to reach the final of the ongoing 2024 African Games. Their upcoming clash against Senegal in the semifinals of the women’s competition is set to kick off at 20:00GMT.
Prepared for what promises to be a tough encounter, Basigi remains hopeful about securing a spot in the final. Reflecting on their recent match against Uganda, where they executed their game plan well despite conceding an early goal, Basigi emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation.
“We played against Senegal in the World Cup qualifiers and came out on top, but we won’t take them lightly this time. I’ve studied their style of play, and they’re strong opponents. So, we’ll approach the game with the utmost seriousness, expecting a challenging battle.”
Despite facing defensive issues due to injuries, Basigi assures that they are ready to rectify mistakes and strengthen their defensive line.
“Injuries have caused some inconsistency in our defense. Although we conceded first in the last game before equalizing, we’ve been working hard in training to address our weaknesses and ensure they don’t happen again.”
Acknowledging Senegal’s strengths, Basigi stresses the need for a focused approach from his team. Despite striker Mukarama missing some recent chances, Basigi expresses confidence in her abilities and pledges ongoing support for her development.
“Mukarama’s missed opportunities won’t affect her position in the team. We’ll continue to support her, and I believe she’ll regain her confidence soon.”
As they continue to work on improving Mukarama’s goal-scoring abilities during training sessions, Basigi remains optimistic about their chances against Senegal.
“We’ve been focusing on refining her goal-scoring skills in training, and I’m confident she’ll make a significant impact in the upcoming match against Senegal.”
The highly anticipated game is scheduled to take place at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.