Head coach of Ghana’s Black Princesses, Charles Sampson, says his side’s inability to convert chances cost them victory against South Africa in the first leg of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Princesses were held at home after failing to make their dominance count, missing the opportunity to take a first-leg advantage in the tie ahead of the return fixture. The tournament is scheduled to take place later this year in Poland.
Speaking after the match, Sampson admitted his team executed parts of their game plan but lacked the composure needed in front of goal.
Our aim was to get goals. We dominated the game, that was also one of our plans. We created chances.
I think what we lacked today is the calmness to convert the chances into goals.”
While Ghana will feel the draw was a missed opportunity on home soil, South Africa’s head coach Maude Kumalo described the result as a positive one for her side, insisting her team followed their strategy and will now look to finish the job in the second leg at home.
For Charles Sampson, who is seeking to guide the Black Princesses to the World Cup for the first time as head coach, the pressure is evident. Ghana’s U-20 women’s team has qualified for every edition since their debut in 2010, and maintaining that impressive record remains a key target as they head into the decisive away encounter.
