Black Maidens ready to compete with best teams ahead of Burkina Faso clash - Adarkwa

Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa says Ghana are ready to compete against the best teams at the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup as they begin their title defence against Burkina Faso.

The Black Maidens face Burkina Faso on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in their opening game of the tournament in Yamoussoukro, with Adarkwa describing the competition as an important part of the team’s preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

According to the coach, the technical team will use the tournament to assess the players, strengthen the squad and build a team capable of competing effectively at the global competition.

“We are here to compete for the World Cup. We are preparing the team for the World Cup, so we are going to use this tournament to assess our players, prepare them and go into the World Cup that will give us a good result over there,” he said.

Adarkwa stressed that Ghana are not in Yamoussoukro merely to participate but are determined to compete with the strongest teams in the tournament, including regional rivals Nigeria.

“We are here not to watch Yamoussoukro, but we are here to compete and compete with the best teams like Nigeria and all other groups here. So we are for business,” he noted.

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The coach also emphasised the need for balance within the squad, saying Ghana must be strong in every department if they are to compete at the highest level.

“Every department of my team has a strength because if you want to compete with the best, you have to strengthen your team so that wherever you go you can play the best game of your team,” he said.

Ghana enter the competition as defending champions after winning the previous edition on home soil.

Adarkwa believes that triumph has given the squad the confidence and motivation to go after another title.

“We are defending champions. The last one that we played in Ghana, we won it, right? So, the spirit is already high. So, we are here to defend it,” he added.

🎥 🇬🇭 “We are here to compete with the best teams, like Nigeria and all the other teams here.”

Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa on facing Burkina Faso today in the WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/hdaWwIfCTz

— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) September 15, 2026

PAH/JKB

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Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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