Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, has expressed his confidence in the Black Princesses before their opening match at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
The Black Princesses will make an eighth consecutive appearance at the tournament, having first qualified for the global competition in 2010. However, Ghana have yet to progress beyond the group stage in any of their previous seven campaigns.
Adams has sent a message of support to the squad before their first match against Ecuador on Sunday, 5 September, saying the team’s consistent presence at the tournament reflects the strength and promise of women’s football in Ghana.
“ That consistency speaks to the enormous potential within women’s football in our country. But every generation must be allowed to write its own story,” he said.
The Black Princesses have earned their place among the world’s leading under-20 women’s teams by qualifying for every edition since their debut. Their latest campaign will give a new group of players the opportunity to change the team’s record at the competition.
While Ghana have regularly reached the finals, they have not yet managed to secure a place in the knockout stages. Charles Samspon is hoping that this year’s team can produce a different outcome and move beyond the group phase for the first time.
Adams’ message focused on both the significance of Ghana’s qualification record and the chance for the current generation to establish its own identity. Rather than being defined by the results of previous squads, the Black Princesses have been encouraged to create a new chapter at the tournament.
Their campaign begins with a meeting against Ecuador, scheduled for 16:00 on Sunday. Ghana will then face South Korea before completing their group-stage fixtures against France.
The minister’s statement comes as the squad prepares to begin another World Cup journey with the weight of history behind it. Ghana’s continued qualification demonstrates the country’s sustained presence in the women’s under-20 game, but the team’s challenge in Poland will be to turn that achievement into progress on the pitch.
For the Black Princesses, the immediate priority is the opening fixture against Ecuador. The match represents the first opportunity for the latest Ghana side to improve on the team’s previous tournament performances and begin a campaign that could finally take them beyond the group stage.
