Joe Nana Adarkwah: WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup Is Key World Cup Test
Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwah says Ghana are using the WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire to build the competitive edge needed for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Ghana have won two of their three Group A matches, beating Burkina Faso 4-0 in their opener before losing to rivals Nigeria.
They recovered with another 4-0 victory over Togo and will face Niger in their final group game as they seek to progress while continuing their World Cup preparations.
For Adarkwah, the tournament is aimed at providing the team with an opportunity to experience the demands of playing competitive matches in quick succession, a similar pattern to expect when the World Cup kicks off.
“After playing each match, you have to do a recovery session, then the following day, you go to your tactical aspect of what you want to play in the next game,” he said.
He believes the schedule closely mirrors what Ghana will encounter at the World Cup and is therefore valuable to the team’s development.
“It’s good for us because going to the World Cup, we are going to use the same days, the same intensity.”
Adarkwah demands full concentration
Despite Ghana’s convincing victories over Burkina Faso and Togo, Adarkwah insists there will be no room for complacency against Niger.
“We are not going to joke on the field, we are going to play the match, we are going to attach every seriousness in the game like the way we play Togo, the way we play Nigeria, the way we play any team here,” he said.
The coach is also encouraged by the opportunities being given to members of the squad, saying regular game time is helping the players remain confident and engaged.
“Everybody here gets the opportunity to play all the matches that we are playing, so they are enjoying the game, so they are okay,” Adarkwah added.
Wahab recalls Nigeria setback
Captain Seidatu Wahab believes the defeat to Nigeria has provided an important lesson ahead of the final group match and the World Cup.
“The game against Nigeria was a tough one. As captain, I think we need to take our chances seriously. We were punished, we were really punished,” Wahab said.
She insists Ghana will not underestimate Niger and will instead stick to their game plan and the instructions of the technical team.
“From what we saw when they played against Togo and scored many goals, we are still not underrating them. We will just play our normal game, go onto the field, listen to our coaches, and do what we have been doing.”
Ghana are also seeking to defend their WAFU B U-17 Girls Cup title, making the Niger encounter important both for their immediate campaign and their preparations for the World Cup in November.