U-17 Women's World Cup: Joe Nana Adarkwa confident Black Maidens will seal qualification against Senegal

Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa is confident Ghana will secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup when they host Senegal in the decisive second leg of their qualifying tie on Saturday.

The two sides remain evenly matched after Ghana came from behind to earn a hard-fought draw in the first leg in Senegal, setting up a winner-takes-all clash at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Adarkwa praised the resilience shown by his players in the first leg and expressed optimism that they can finish the job on home soil.

"We had to come from behind to secure a point in a very tight game against a difficult Senegal side. The girls showed great character, and now our focus is on winning at home to book our place at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup," he said.

The Ghana coach added that the technical team is putting the finishing touches to its preparations, with the aim of selecting the right team to execute their plans effectively.

"We will work on getting our lineup right and remain committed to our game plan. Every player understands what is at stake, and we are determined to deliver a performance that makes Ghanaians proud."

The winner of Saturday's encounter will claim one of Africa's qualification slots for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The match will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 GMT.