Black Maidens head coach Nana Joe Darkwa has insisted his side remains grounded and fully focused as they prepare for their decisive second-leg encounter against Togo in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana’s U-17 women’s team will host their West African rivals at the Accra Sports Stadium, carrying momentum from their first-leg advantage but refusing to take anything for granted.
In an exclusive interview with Asempa Sports, Darkwa revealed that preparations have been intensified, with the technical team determined to avoid complacency.
“We have intensified our training, and we are not being complacent after the first win. We are ready for the second leg and have no excuse but to win and qualify to face Liberia,” he said.
Despite the positive result in the opening fixture, the coach acknowledged the need for improvement in front of goal, highlighting finishing as a major area of concern.
“We created a lot of chances in the first game, so we’ve worked on improving our finishing ahead of the next match,” he added.
The team has since relocated its training base from Prampram to Accra, a move Darkwa believes has sharpened the players’ concentration.
“We’ve moved from Prampram to Accra to train, and it has helped the team,” he explained.
The squad has also received a timely morale boost following a visit from Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, whose interaction with the players has lifted spirits within the camp.
“The GFA President visited the team and spoke to the players. It has really motivated them,” he said.
He also reserved praise for his goalkeeper, who impressed on her debut in the first leg.
“The goalkeeper has shown great promise. I was impressed with her performance on her debut,” he noted.
With confidence building and preparations on course, the Black Maidens are determined to finish the job and book their place in the next round of the qualifiers.
