Ghana’s U-20 Women’s head coach, Charles Sampson, has come to the defence of his players after suffering a second consecutive defeat to Nigeria’s Falconets in the ongoing WAFU-B Girls Cup in Benin Republic.
Despite the 3-0 loss at the Stade d’Adjohoun, Sampson maintained that the scoreline did not reflect the effort or potential of his young team. The coach, who is overseeing a rebuilding phase within the Black Princesses, described the encounter as a learning experience rather than a setback.
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“It’s never easy losing twice to the same opponent in one week, but we are not discouraged,” Sampson said. “Our performance was an improvement in certain areas, even if the result doesn’t show it.”
The Ghanaian tactician explained that his players struggled with concentration lapses that led to soft goals, particularly in the opening 20 minutes. He admitted that Nigeria capitalized on those errors but insisted his team matched their rivals for large portions of the game.
“We conceded goals we shouldn’t have, and that comes down to focus,” he added. “But I was proud of how we responded. We pressed better, our movement was sharper, and the team spirit remains high.”
Sampson also emphasized that the WAFU-B tournament serves as a crucial platform for assessing the next generation of Ghanaian female footballers. He said the long-term objective is not just winning now, but preparing players who can compete at the World Cup and senior national level.
“We’re building a strong foundation,” Sampson explained. “Losing is painful, but it’s part of growth. These players will learn from every mistake and come back stronger.”
Looking ahead, Sampson said the focus will shift to tactical improvement and mental resilience as the Black Princesses aim to bounce back in their next group match against Togo, vowing to end the campaign on a positive note.
