Black Princesses head coach Yussif Basigi is turning his focus to the remaining Group E matches after Ghana’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Austria in their 2024 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup opener on Monday.
Ghana, who conceded a goal in each half, will now face Japan on Thursday before concluding the group stage against New Zealand. Despite the setback, Basigi remains optimistic about his team’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Reflecting on the match, Basigi admitted the team’s slow start but highlighted their improved performance in the second half. “We started the game slowly, but as we approached the latter part of the first half, we began to raise our game. In the second half, we dominated play after going down by a goal,” Basigi stated.
He lamented the missed opportunities that could have changed the outcome. “We didn’t utilize many of our goal-scoring chances, which was unfortunate. This is an area we need to polish so we can get back into contention.”
Basigi also acknowledged the pressure his team now faces but remains motivated to push forward. “I wouldn’t say there’s no pressure at all because a win or draw against Austria would have given us momentum. Now, we have no option but to go all out in the remaining two games.”
With a formidable squad and the experience gained from previous international friendlies, the Black Princesses are determined to make a strong comeback in their upcoming matches.
