Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa says Ghana has no option but to beat Canada in their final Group B match at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Ghana will face Canada on Saturday, October 24, at 3:00pm GMT in a must-win encounter to keep their hopes of progressing from the group alive.
Speaking after the team’s final training session, Adarkwa said the mood in camp is positive and the players understand what is at stake.
“You can see from the training ground that hopes are very high. They know what is at stake. Whatever it is, we must win. We don’t have any option,” he said.
The Black Maidens held Brazil to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their second group game, and the coach believes building on that performance will be key against the North Americans.
“We are going to continue what we did against Brazil and polish it so that when we get in there, we can make it. Without a win we cannot come out from the group, so we have to win and we are going to win,” he added.
Adarkwa also emphasized self-belief ahead of the decisive clash.
“Before a player plays matches like this, when it is time to play a deciding game, nobody will psych you. You psych yourself without the coaches or without the psychologists. They know what is at stake and they are going to deliver for us.”
He concluded with a call for national support: “We need prayers and support and nothing else.”
Ghana currently has one point from two games following a 3-0 defeat to Norway and a 3-3 draw with Brazil and must beat Canada to have any chance of advancing.
