Maidens ready for North Korea challenge
The FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup has reached the heart-breaking stages, where one mistake could prove costly and end the dreams of a hope-filled team.
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It begins with the quarter-finals today with some eye-catching matches – an all-European clash, an all-Latino clash, Europe versus Asia as well as Africa versus Asia.
For most Ghanaians, however, the interest will be in tomorrow’s game, hoping their Black Maidens who face former champions, North Korea, will continue their story of determination and strong will as they search for a ticket to their second semi-final berth.
Against all odds, and given so little chance, the Maidens qualified from a tricky Group D, beating highly tipped USA to the second slot from that group.
Left to their fate and with very little financial support, the Maidens have vowed to soldier on and are keen to recording another victory against the North Koreans, two years after first beating them in Costa Rica.
Tipped to overcome the Maidens, given their pedigree as former champions and also arriving in Costa Rica with a runners-up title, the North Koreans were dealt a heavy blow when goals from Jane Ayieyam and Sandra Owusu-Ansah beat them in their Group B clash, a stages a loss that went on to haunt them and eventually cost them an onward match in the competition they had hoped to win for the second time.
So presented with an opportunity to avenge, the North Koreans, who won the maiden edition of the competition in New Zealand in 2008, will grab with both hands and they do have the ladies to do battle.
In Jordan, the two sides have had contrasting travel from the group stage, the North Koreans emphatically winning their Group C with a 3-0 win over Nigeria while the Maidens finished second.
However, the quarter-finals are quite different and with a fair knowledge about the North Koreans, Coach Evans Adotey and his charges, surely must have an antidote for these fast-paced Asians.
Coach Adotey need to psyche his girls up to stay focused and play well right from the beginning, instead of playing a tale of two halves – as has been seen of them so far in this competition.