2026 U-17 WWC: No player is guaranteed a spot in Black Maidens squad – Joe Nana Adarkwa warns

Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has issued a strong warning to players that no position in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is guaranteed as preparations for the tournament continue.

Ghana secured qualification for the global competition after edging Senegal 7-6 on penalties in a dramatic final qualifying round encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium over the weekend.

However, despite achieving their qualification objective, Adarkwa says the technical team will not relax in its search for the best talents available, insisting that every player must continue to prove their worth to earn a place in the final squad.

The coach revealed that scouting exercises will remain a key part of Ghana’s preparations, with opportunities available for new players to break into the team ahead of the tournament in Morocco.

“We’ll keep scouting to strengthen the squad. No place is guaranteed; only the best players will make the team,” Adarkwa said.

The Black Maidens have been drawn in a challenging Group C for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, where they will face three strong opponents — Canada, Brazil and Norway.

Despite the difficulty of the group, Adarkwa remains confident that Ghana will prepare adequately to compete against some of the best youth teams in the world.

“Group C is tough, but we’ll be ready,” he added.

The technical team is expected to continue monitoring players across the country in the coming weeks as Ghana works towards assembling a strong squad capable of making a mark at the tournament.