World Cup: Princesses in tricky Group A

Ghana's Black Princesses will open their 2014 Women’s World Cup (WWC) campaign with their first game against hosts, Canada, on August 5 at the Toronto National Stadium, after the two were drawn in Group A alongside Finland and North Korea in the draw held last Saturday.

The draw attracted a big sigh of relief from the Ghana delegation as it had  been spared the ‘Group of Death’  at this year’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup (WWC) but they still face a tricky Group A.

The Princesses, two years ago failed to score a single goal when they met former champions, Germany and USA, as well as China, in the 2012 WWC staged in Japan and that dismal performance was blamed on the opposition they faced then.

While they may have been spared another ‘Group of Death’ as that group was labelled, the Princesses will have to deal with yet another group of well-established teams in women’s football if their dream of making it past the first round is to be a reality.

Both the chairman of the Princesses management committee, and the head coach, Bashir Hayford, who were in Canada for the draw, said it was a relief that the former champions had not been thrown their way again.

“It’s true that you have to beat the toughest teams to be the best, but sometimes, it helps if the journey is not made so difficult.

“We can’t say it is an easy group but it’s better than being drawn against Germany and USA again. That would have been a difficult ladder to climb psychologically,” the chairman said.

Interestingly, Group B now assumes  the ‘Group of Death’ tag as the three giants in women’s football, Germany, USA and China as well as established Brazil join the fray the in group.

Nigeria, England, Mexico and South Korea have been drawn in Group C with Group D, perhaps, the most convenient hosting France, Costa Rica, Paraguay and New Zealand.

The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which is returning to the nation that hosted its inaugural edition in 2002, will be played in four venues - Edmonton, Moncton, Montreal and Toronto - between 5 and 24 August 2014. 

Full draw 

Group A: Canada ,Ghana, Finland, North Korea 

Group B: Germany, USA, China,Brazil 

Group C: England, Korea Republic, Mexico, Nigeria 

Group D: New Zealand, Paraguay,France, Costa Rica