Princesses face Korea DPR today
After crushing what would have been an opening party for the host, Ghana's Black Princesses are poised to do the nation proud when they play North Korea later today in Toronto, Canada.
Advertisement
Coach Bashir Hayford's charges had to find an inner motivation against the odds of a vociferous home fans to silence Canada last Wednesday and believe their second game against Korea DPR would not be different.
But for the Koreans, who are coming to the game from a 2-1 win over Finland, the Black Princesses do not pose so much threat to them, especially when both teams are playing at this stage for the first time.
The challenge for Coach Hayford is devising a strategy to unlock the somehow compact defence of the Asian side who are swift and a threat when on the break.
But their victory against the host has soared their confidence and are prepared to take on any opponent.
Similar motivation would be required against the Asian side whose 2-1 victory against Finland push them to the summit of the log.
Incidentally, the Princesses victory appeared to have drowned Ghanaians' agony from the Black Stars disappointing performance at the World Cup and have now turned to the U-20 ladies for reprieve.
This had put the team under pressure eager to appease Ghanaians by winning the trophy for the first time just like their male counterparts did in 2009 in Egypt.
For now, all eyes would be zoomed on the defensive acumen of Cynthia Yiadom Faustina Ampah, Rebecca Asante and Grace Adams who would provide cover for goalkeeper, Victoria Agyei, and how the midfielder, Priscilla Okyere, Fatima Alhassan, Edem Atovor and Wasila Diwura-Soale would combine effectively to tame the Koreans.
But these names might not scare the Korea DPR whose clinical finishers, Choe Yun Gyong and K. So Hyang, would hope to use Ghana to experiment their goal scoring prowess.
But to emerge unscathed from this battle, Ghana must avoid mistakes and keep a close eye on their strikers who have the potential of punishing any sloppy defending.
In other matches of the day, Canada would play Finland, Germany clash with China, while USA battles Brazil and tomorrow, England will play Mexico, South Korea clash with Nigeria, New Zealand lock horns with France and Paraguaye will play Costa Rica.