Maidens won’t spare Canada
QUARTER-FINAL qualification is already sealed for Ghana’s Black Maidens but they are not prepared to let down their guard when they play Canada tomorrow night in their final Group B match of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup (WWC) in Costa Rica.
Last Tuesday, the Maidens beat previously feared Germany 1-0 in the second game to become the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals and can afford to take things easy against Canada, but Coach Evans Adotey has indicated that they will maintain their game plan to the end.
While the Maidens can afford to relax in this final game tomorrow (kickoff: 23:00GMT), the Canadians need a win at all cost if they are to retain their second position and also advance to the quarter-finals.
Should Canada draw, then they will be looking out for the outcome of the Germany v North Korea match to know their fate.
Having taken care of their business, the Maidens remain determined to go all out to maintain their position at the top of the group standings.
“We are in Costa Rica to take care of our own business and our dream is to win and get to as far as the final and that means winning all our matches. It does not matter the margin of goals, our priority is to win and try as much as possible not to concede. So far the game plan is intact,” Coach Adotey said of tomorrow’s game.
Canada will present a fresh challenge to the Maidens, as this will be the first time the two sides are meeting at this level. The CONCACAF representatives have shown character even though they have a leaky defence.
In their first game, they took the lead but allowed the unrelenting Germans to claw back, and in their next game they fought hard to draw against North Korea.
These results notwithstanding, the Canadians could still pose a danger to the Ghanaian girls if they take them for granted.
Coach Adotey is aware of this potential Canadian threat. “We try to improve upon each game and so we expect to do much better in the third game. I’m particularly happy about the Germans’ victory as it was supposed to be our toughest, because we had played each other in Azerbaijan where they beat us at the group stage and we beat them for the bronze.”
Against Germany, the Maidens did not take their foot off the pedal and pushed till a 43rd minute goal from Gladys Amfobea earned them all the three points.
Indeed, the Maidens took charge right from the start with Lily Niber-Lawrence missing some breath-taking chances, while goalkeeper Azume Adams, who won the Player of the Match award, made some point-blank saves.