We’re ready for Ethiopia — Princesses coach
Masa-Ud Didi Dramani, the coach of Ghana's Under-20 female football team, say they are determined to claim victory over Ethiopia as they host them in the return and final leg of their Women's World Cup (WWC) qualifier in Kumasi on Sunday.
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Two weeks ago, the Princesses gave up a 1-0 lead and fought to draw 2-2 in the first leg in Addis Ababa, but Coach Dramani says they will not commit the same mistakes that nearly cost them as they are bent on qualifying for the 2016 U-20 WWC in Papua New Guinea.
"We went to Addis Ababa hoping to keep a clean sheet, but that did not happen and we were forced to fight for a drawn result. The mistakes we committed have been well noted and corrected. In Kumasi, our game plan is not just to win, but also to maintain a clean sheet at home," Coach Dramani told the Graphic Sports.
According to Coach Dramani, the game plan in this second leg would be completely different from what they employed in the first leg given that the climatic conditions are completely different and we also had some injury worries.
"In Kumasi, we would be playing in a well-known condition and familiar terrain while all the key players who were on the injury list have also fully recovered.
"This is the final qualifier and since we want to qualify at all cost, we are going to go all out and fire from all angles to get as many goals as we can," he said.
He said the team would map a strategy to mark out the Ethiopians' playmaker, Loza Abera, who got a brace for her side in the first leg.
"She is a very good player and once we are able to make her ineffective, we can get our game plan well executed," Dramani said.
The Princesses are aiming at a third consecutive WWC ticket, while the Ethiopians are searching for their first. The winners will join either Nigeria or South Africa for the tournament slated for Papaua New Guinea next year.
Nigeria won 2-1 in their first leg played in Abuja and will travel to Johannesburg for the second leg also this weekend.