U-17 WWC: Joe Nana Adarkwa hails Black Maiden’s after win over Argentina

Black Maidens coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has praised his players for their tactical discipline and resilience after Ghana defeated Argentina on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Ghana booked their place in the last eight after a dramatic Round of 16 encounter at the Mohammed VI Complex in Rabat on Wednesday night.

The match ended 1-1 after regulation time, with the Black Maidens forced to play the closing stages with 10 players following Hajara Adam’s dismissal with 13 minutes remaining.

However, Ghana held firm before winning 5-4 in the penalty shootout to eliminate their South American opponents and continue their campaign in Morocco.

Speaking to FIFA Media after the match, Adarkwa expressed his delight at the team’s performance, particularly their ability to follow instructions despite being a player down.

“I’m delighted, as usual. You can see in the celebrations that I lost my voice, but I’m OK,” he said.

The Ghana coach also singled out Jessica Appiah for praise, highlighting her composure in crucial moments and her contribution to the team’s success.

“In our match that brought us into this tournament against Senegal, she scored the final penalty and today too. I’m happy for the girl. Jessica is a world-class player – she’s fantastic,” he added.

Adarkwa said the players’ tactical discipline was key to keeping Ghana in the contest after Adam’s red card.

“We’re a technical team but our players did well because if you are not tactical when it’s 10 against 11, you lose the game. But thank God the players played according to our instructions and we drew. I’m happy for my girls because if you instruct them, they’ll get there,” he said.

The victory keeps Ghana’s hopes of winning the tournament alive, with the Black Maidens set to face either Japan or Kenya in the quarter-finals.