Ghana's U-17 women face Brazil in a must-respond clash after a 3-0 loss to Norway, and coach Joe Nana Adarkwa is demanding sharper finishing.
Ghana's Black Maidens have no time to dwell on the past. After a 3-0 defeat to Norway in their Group C opener at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, they now meet Brazil at 18:00 GMT on Wednesday, October 21, at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, and head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa wants a reaction.
Adarkwa did not hide from the result. He said his players gave their best against Norway but that it simply was not enough, adding that there were no excuses and that the team accepts the loss. His message now is about turning the page, with the full focus of the squad locked on the Brazil fixture.
The coach pointed to finishing as the biggest problem against the Europeans. Ghana failed to make their chances count, and Adarkwa admitted he was puzzled by the hesitation shown by some of his players when shooting opportunities arrived. In his view, a game situation leaves no room for second-guessing in front of goal.
To fix it, the technical team has put extra work into shooting during training sessions, drilling the players to be more decisive when chances come. Against a Brazilian side that will bring plenty of quality and pressure, that sharpness could define whether Ghana keep their tournament hopes alive.
For the young Black Maidens, this is the moment to show character on the world stage. A strong response against Brazil would put Group C back in play and send a message that Ghana's next generation will not be defined by one bad night.
