Ghana’s Black Princesses will be without seven players for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland after a serious injury crisis disrupted their preparations for the tournament.
Captain Linda Owusu Ansah is among the key absentees after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while representing Ghana’s senior women’s team, the Black Queens, at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The AFC Toronto defender was an important figure in Ghana’s qualification campaign. She scored the decisive free-kick against Uganda to secure the Black Princesses’ place at the World Cup.
Her absence is a significant setback for coach Yaw Sampson, who must now find a way to replace both her leadership and her defensive contribution.
The Black Princesses have also lost three goalkeepers to injury. Asana Osman, Grace Andoh and Jenna Kayla Sarpong are all unavailable for the competition, leaving Ghana with reduced options in one of the most important positions on the pitch.
The problems are not limited to defence and goalkeeping. Forwards Mercy Attobrah and Mary Amponsah have also been ruled out, while midfielder Jessica Appiah completes the list of seven injured players.
The injuries affect every department of Sampson’s squad and will force him to reconsider his plans before Ghana begin their campaign in Poland.
Despite the setbacks, the remaining members of the Black Princesses have arrived at their pre-tournament training camp in Krakow. The team is continuing its preparations as Sampson seeks to build a competitive side from the players still available to him.
Ghana will make their eighth consecutive appearance at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup when they face Ecuador on 6 September.
They have been drawn in Group C with Ecuador, South Korea and France, creating a demanding route through the group stage. After their opening match against Ecuador, the Black Princesses will play South Korea before completing their group campaign against France.
The scale of the injury list means Ghana will have to depend heavily on the remaining members of the squad. Sampson will also need to reshape his tactical approach to compensate for the absence of several players who were expected to play prominent roles.
Owusu Ansah’s injury is particularly influential because of her status as captain and her contribution during qualification, but the loss of three goalkeepers, two forwards and a midfielder further reduces the coach’s flexibility.
The Black Princesses will therefore enter the tournament facing uncertainty over their team structure, while attempting to make a strong impression in Poland despite the disruption to their preparations.
