For the seventh consecutive tournament, Ghana’s Black Princesses have failed to advance beyond the group stages of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Despite facing New Zealand in their final group match, Ghana’s prospects were dashed after Argentina’s win over Costa Rica secured the last available third-place slot and eliminated Ghana’s chances of progressing.
The Black Princesses started their 2024 World Cup campaign in Colombia with a disappointing 2-1 loss to tournament debutants Austria. They followed up with a 4-1 defeat against 2018 champions Japan, leaving their hopes of advancing slim.
Although a win against New Zealand would have earned them three points, it was not enough to surpass any of the best third-placed teams.
Coach Yussif Basigi, hoping for a slip-up from Argentina, made the bold decision to bench first-choice goalkeeper Afi Amenyeku and give Jenna Sapong her debut.
However, the outcome of Argentina’s match rendered Ghana’s final group fixture meaningless.
The Black Princesses entered the tournament with high expectations following their gold medal in women’s football at the 2023 African Games.
Their group-stage elimination once again highlights ongoing structural issues within the team, as they continue to struggle on the world stage.
While Ghana exits the competition, fellow African teams Nigeria and Cameroon have advanced to the next round.
Nigeria finished second in their group behind Germany, and Cameroon progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
Ghana will need to regroup and reassess as they prepare for the next edition of the tournament, still in pursuit of their first-ever knockout stage appearance.
