Accra: Assistant coach of Ghana's U-17 women's national team, the Black Maidens, Bashirudeen Sumani, has praised his players' determination and resilience following their dramatic qualification for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after defeating Senegal on penalties.
According to Ghana Web, the assistant coach expressed gratitude to Allah and commended his players for their commitment throughout the campaign after the thrilling victory at the Accra Sports Stadium on July 11, 2026. Sumani highlighted the players' focus and adherence to coaching instructions as key factors in their success.
Sumani also acknowledged the unwavering support of Ghanaians throughout the qualification campaign, describing it as a major source of motivation for the team. He expressed his appreciation to the entire nation for their support, stating that the team's happiness was a result of achieving a positive outcome.
Although Ghana had hoped to secure qualification within regulation time, Sumani revealed that the technical team had prepared the players for every possible scenario, including a penalty shootout. The coaches continually encouraged the players, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus until the final whistle.
The assistant coach further explained that during their six-month training camp, the players were reminded of the hard work they had put in, preparing them mentally for the penalty shootout. Sumani shared that the players had promised victory before the shootout and fulfilled that promise by defeating Senegal 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the second leg, with the tie ending 2-2 on aggregate.
With this victory, the Black Maidens secured Ghana's place at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, a testament to their dedication and resilience throughout the qualification process.