Black Maidens step up preparations for World Cup opener

The Black Maidens have stepped up preparations for the 2016 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jordan with Coach Evans Adotey taking the team through double training sessions daily.

The national U-17 team arrived in Amman on Wednesday and began training on on Thursday when the team continued the training programme they started in Prampram and later in Cape Coast.

The team also got the opportunity to watch a friendly game between tournament hosts Jordan and Brazil after their double session.

Ghana’s friendly game against Cameroon which was scheduled for Friday had to be postponed due to the late arrival of the Cameroonians in Jordan.

The team, however, has continued its morning and evening training sessions with Coach Adotey and his assistant Ben Fokuo instilling the famous Ghanaian all-attack-all-defend passing game into the girls.

Goalkeepers trainer Eddy Williams has also been taking the goalies through some intensive goalkeeping drills and sharpening their skills.

Adiazatu Mohammed who is acting captain of the team due to the absence of Sonia Opoku has expressed satisfaction with training sessions in Jordan and has confirmed that it go a long way to improve their performance during the competition.

“Training here has been very good due to the quality of pitches and training has been easier for the team”.

“We are all happy to be in Jordan early before the tournament begins and we the believe that though we don’t underrate any team, we are amongst the best players here in Jordan and what we will go into matches with,” Adiza told Ghanafa.org.

“Our coaches are also doing a good job by preparing us well for the tournament and with this will help us to be ready especially for the first match against Japan”, she added.

According to the team doctor and physiotherapist, there are no major injury concerns in camp with all the girls ready for the tournament.

Ghana will face USA and Paraguay in subsequent group games after the opener against defending Champions Japan next Friday.