Black Princesses head coach Charles Sampson has hailed his side’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as a remarkable achievement, describing the moment as both “indescribable and overwhelming.”
Ghana booked their place at the tournament after a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Uganda in Kampala over the weekend, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory. The Black Princesses had edged the first leg 2-1 at the Accra Sports Stadium before completing the job away from home.
Midfielder Linda Owusu Ansah emerged as a key figure in the decisive second leg, scoring in the 78th minute to secure Ghana’s qualification and spark celebrations among the squad.
Speaking to the media upon the team’s arrival in Accra on Monday, Sampson expressed pride in his players’ commitment and unity throughout the campaign.
“[The feeling is] indescribable and overwhelming. You can see how happy the girls are. We are so proud of them. This is what we were out for, and we got what we wanted, so we are very excited,” he said.
He noted that the job is far from over, revealing that the team’s focus has now shifted toward making an impact at the global tournament.
“We have two obligations from the FA; the first was to qualify, and the next one is to do well at the World Cup. So now, our intention has turned to how to prepare the team and do well at the World Cup.
The coach also credited the belief within his squad for their success, insisting confidence in their tactical approach played a major role.
“I was always confident, and I trusted the girls. They believed in the concept that we had from the beginning, so I knew we would go far with it,” he added.
Looking ahead, Ghana will travel to Poland in September for the global showpiece, where Sampson’s side will aim to make history by becoming the first Ghanaian team to progress beyond the group stage at that level.
