Black Princess head coach Charles Sampson says the team drew motivation from a surprise visit by former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, revealing that the players were visibly excited by the presence of the legendary striker.
Speaking to 3Sports, Sampson said the players had been informed ahead of the visit, allowing them to look forward to meeting Gyan even before the match.
“It meant a lot. I already got the signal that he would be coming. So I picked the girls. The girls were actually expecting him before the game started. But they knew that he was present,” he stated.
He added that Gyan’s decision to enter the dressing room during the half-time break provided an additional boost, with the players clearly excited to interact with the former striker and draw inspiration from his presence.
“He came into the dressing room during halftime, and that alone was enough motivation for the girls. It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
Sampson noted the excitement among the players was evident as they welcomed the moment and enjoyed the interaction.
“We could see the joy in them all, and they enjoyed it. So we are looking forward to giving them even more exciting times.”
Ghana’s hopes of progressing beyond the group stage of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup remain alive after securing a commanding 3-1 victory over South Korea on Wednesday afternoon following a disappointing opening fixture against Ecuador.
The Black Princesses take on France on Saturday, September 12, where a positive result from Ghana secures qualification to the next stage.
