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After an impressive performance in the just-ended 13th African Games where the Black Princesses of Ghana clinched gold in the women’s football category, Yusif Basigi and his ladies have shifted their attention toward the world’s prestigious u-20 women’s football tournament, U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The Black Princesses of Ghana secured a goalless draw yesterday in a friendly match against Mexico in their preparation for the 11th edition of the women’s U-20 World Cup which is to be staged in Colombia from 31 August 2024 through till 22 September 2024.
The Princesses have been drawn into Group E alongside Austria, New Zealand, and One-time Champions Japan.
Ghana will open their campaign against Austria in their open group E match before playing New Zealand in their second game and Japan in the last group stage huddle.
Here are some of Ghana’s rising stars to watch at the U-20 World Cup.
1. Stella Nyamekye (Dreamz Ladies)
The former Black Maidens captain, Stella Nyamekye will be one of the names that will boast the midfield of Ghana in the forthcoming women’s u-20 World Cup tournament.
Nyamekye started her career with Dreamz Ladies where in 2022, she led the team into the Ghana Women’s Premier League after winning the Ashanti Regional Division One League and placing second in the Zonal Playoff championship.
In 2023, she was promoted to the Ghana U20 Women’s team after an incredible stint with the u-17 team.
Stella scored a hat-trick in the u-20 11–0 pre-tournament friendly win over Niger. She was named as the captain of the team by Yusif Basigi. She was instrumental in the WAFU Zone B tournament as she bagged four goals in Ghana’s 2023 WAFU Zone B U-20 Women’s Cup victory.
After battling some injury from the African games, Stella Nyamekye is back in the squad having recovered from the injury that forced her to pull out of the African Games in March.
2. Mafia Nyame 19 (AS FAR)
Another name coach Bazigi could count on is Mafia Nyame. The AS FAR player was very crucial for Bazigi and the Black Princess in their triumph in the 13th African games. The 19-year-old girl was part of the Black Princesses squad at the last edition of the World Cup in Costa Rica where Ghana failed to pass the group test after they had an early shower in the competition.
Her experience on the world stage and the African games would be needed in Ghana’s attack.
Mafia is among the players who are highly motivated for the tournament and she is very excited to be given another opportunity to go to the World Cup and make her mark.
“It is always an honour to be called to the national team to serve the nation wholeheartedly.
I featured in only one game as a sub in Costa Rica and hopefully, if I make it to this year’s World Cup, I’ll go and do well to leave a mark. I believe that this team to make it out of the group stage for the first time in our history. The technical team is doing their best and taking us through a series of trainings’’. she told ghanafa.org.
3. Alexandra Emefa Tay (Seattle United ECNL)
The Black Princesses have been strengthened in defence by the arrival of United States-based defender Alexandra Emefa Tay. The Seattle United ECNL defender’s ability on the ball will be needed in Ghana’s build-up play from the back.
Tay has been rock solid in defence for Seattle United ECNL in the American youth female soccer and her pair with Comfort Yeboah will form a formidable force in Ghana’s defence in the U-20 World Cup.
Ghana’s foe at the women’s World Cup is to make it out of the group stage of the biennial tournament.
Bazigi will be missing the services of Abdulai Mukarama but with the likes of Comfort Yeboah, Mary Amponsah, Afi Amenyaku and some other big names, Ghana would be in safe hands to battle for the coveted trophy.
Ghana will be making their seventh consecutive appearance in the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
From 2010 to 2022, Ghana had been trapped in the group stages, securing four wins out of the total 18 matches played.
Despite the unimpressive performance, the team remain confident in changing the narrative in this year’s competition.
Story by: Rabbi Adu Agyei
The post U-20 Women’s World Cup: Ghana’s rising stars to watch in Colombia first appeared on 3News.
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