Black Maidens open WAFU B campaign with 4-0 win
Defending champions Black Maidens cruise past Burkina Faso in opener
Ghana‘s Black Maidens opened their WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Tuesday, September 15, making a strong start to their title defence.
The defending champions scored twice in each half to secure a comfortable victory in their opening fixture.
Seidatu Wahab, Gloria Ameaa, Benedicta Danso and Hajara Adams were all on the scoresheet for Ghana.
The Ghana Football Association reported the Black Maidens’ 4-0 victory as the team began its campaign on a winning note.
https://www.ghanafa.org/black-maidens-thrash-burkina-faso-4-0-in-wafu-b-opener
Black Maidens break Burkina Faso resistance
The Black Maidens had to wait until first-half stoppage time to find the breakthrough.
Linda Achiaa won a penalty for Ghana, giving captain Seidatu Wahab the opportunity to put the defending champions ahead.
Wahab converted from the spot in the 45+3rd minute to give Ghana a 1-0 lead going into the break.
The goal gave Ghana the advantage after a first half in which the side continued to apply pressure in search of an opener.
The defending champions add three after break
Ghana continued from where they left off after the interval.
Gloria Ameaa doubled the advantage before Benedicta Danso added a third goal as the Black Maidens maintained control of the contest.
Hajara Adams completed the scoring in the 84th minute to seal the 4-0 victory.
The result handed Ghana all three points and provided an emphatic opening to their WAFU B campaign.
Their coach applauds teamwork
Head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa credited the team’s collective effort after the victory.
Rather than focusing on individual performances, Adarkwa highlighted the contribution of the different departments within his squad.
“We have an all-round team. Every department of our team is good. We always wanted to do something that will help the team, not individual play,” Adarkwa said.
‘Every match is preparation for the World Cup’ – Black Maidens boss on WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup
He added that the approach had been part of the team’s work since the qualifying stage.
“So you can see from the field that we play as a collective. So that’s our motivation, and we are going to continue with whatever we are doing. We started it from the qualifiers, and we won so many matches,” he said.
The Maidens prepare for Nigeria
The WAFU B tournament also forms part of Ghana’s preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Adarkwa said the team would use each fixture as an opportunity to continue preparing for the global tournament.
“It’s a very good game and a nice game for my girls. We are here to prepare the team for the World Cup. So every match is a preparation match for Ghana,” he said.
The Black Maidens will now turn their attention to Nigeria, with the two West African sides scheduled to meet on Saturday, September 19, in Ghana’s second game of the competition.
The meeting will provide Ghana with another test after their four-goal opening victory.
Ghana entered the competition as defending champions after winning the previous WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup.
Their opening result gives the side an early platform as they seek to defend the regional title while continuing preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The four goals were shared among four different players, with Wahab, Ameaa, Danso and Adams all contributing to the victory.
However, the performance was more than the goals for Adarkwa but his emphasis on collective play reflected the team’s approach as Ghana began the tournament with a convincing result.
The Ghanaian stars will now have to reproduce that performance when they face Nigeria on September 19.
Ghana’s opening victory has put the defending champions on the front foot, but the Nigeria fixture will provide another measure of their progress as the WAFU B campaign continues.