Black Princesses head coach Yussif Basigi has stressed the importance of his team arriving in Colombia at least a week before the start of the U-20 Women's FIFA World Cup.
Ghana will be making their seventh consecutive appearance in the global tournament, which runs from August 31 to September 22 in Colombia. Basigi's squad has been placed in Group E, where they will face Austria, New Zealand, and former World Champions Japan. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
With the aim of reaching the Round of 16 for the first time, Basigi is confident in his team's motivation and preparation. He emphasized the necessity of arriving early to adjust to the altitude in Colombia.
“The authorities concerned know what it takes," Basigi stated. "The timeline is also a factor, so we need to acclimatize because the altitude there is a consideration. I know we will get there a few weeks or days before the competition begins,” he added.
Currently, the Black Princesses are training in Cape Coast to prepare for the tournament.
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Black Princesses coach Yussif Basigi has highlighted the importance of more friendly matches for his team as they prepare for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Ghana's U-20 women's team is gearing up for their seventh consecutive appearance in the tournament since their debut in 2010. The Black Princesses have been training intensively in Cape Coast for the past three weeks to ready themselves for the upcoming World Cup, which will take place in Colombia later this year.
Despite their rigorous training schedule, the team has not yet had the opportunity for the high-caliber matches necessary for thorough preparation. Speaking to the press on Monday, Basigi emphasized the need for more friendly games before the tournament.
"Definitely, when it comes to such preparations, you will need matches to play. But to begin with, we have started playing some medium-profile games around since many of the female clubs are not in session," he said.
"We have decided to play with U-13 boys so we take it from there and I know as and when we are progressing, other matches will follow," he added.
With the expansion of the tournament to 24 teams from 16, Basigi aims to guide Ghana past the first round for the first time. The Black Princesses are in Group E and will face Austria, New Zealand, and Japan.
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