Maidens ready for Japan challenge as FIFA U-17 WWC kick off
Another FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup (WWC) is here and beginning this evening, 15 teams will begin their campaign to dethrone Japan as the champions of the competition, which has now become a big platform for young girls to serve notice to the world of their potential.
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Sixteen teams grouped into four will attempt to maintain the U-17 WWC tradition of always having new champions since the the tournament started in 2008. But Japan are determined to break the rule and chart a new course by retaining the title they won two years ago in Costa Rica.
The opening match this evening will be a terse Group A encounter against hosts, Jordan and 2014 runners up, Spain, with the Europeans tipped to beat the hosts who do not have strong credentials in women's football.
For most Ghanaians, however, their interest will be in Group D where their team, the Black Maidens face the defending champions, Japan tomorrow.
The Maidens have set a personal target of at least reaching the quarter-finals and are ready for the challenge in a rather tough Group D.
The Maidens, though have an impressive CV in this competition, (exited the group stage in New Zealand 2008 and Trinidad and Tobago 2010, were bronze medalists in Azerbaijan in 2012 and lost out at the quarter-finals in Costa Rica at the last edition) have a herculean task coming up against the champions in the opening game.
Despite Ghana’s low key preparation, Coach Evans Adotey, who has a good experience at this competition both as an assistant and head coach, remains optimistic about their chances, insisting they are in Jordan to replicate their performance in their last two competitions.
The Maidens played just one qualifying game against Morocco and won by a 10-0 margin in the two legs, but they are first to admit that playing in the qualifiers is not the same as playing in the main competition, more so when they come up against defending champions.
As if the low key preparation is not bad enough, the Maidens have lost one of their key goalkeepers, Martha Annan Koffie, who got injured during training and will now be replaced by Real Upper Ladies' Berikisu Issahaku.
Coach Adotey remains upbeat and says his team boasts of some individual talent who are raring to go and have an idea on how to beat Japan. Indeed, in Costa Rica, the Maidens began their campaign with a 2-0 win against North Korea.
Sandra Owusu-Ansah was in Costa Rica where she scored three goals, the opening goal against North Korea and has already hinted of her desire to finish the tournament as a top striker.
There is also Adisatu Mustapha and a strong defence built around Joyce Asamoah, Linda Amoako Uwaisa Mawia, whose confidence at the rear is reassuring.
Another good start against Japan will be good enough to give them a boost before the remaining matches against USA and Paraguay.