Under the setting sun at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram, the Black Princesses took to the pitch in a test of their progress under new head coach Charles Sampson. Facing a determined Army Ladies side, the young Ghanaian team showcased glimpses of their evolving style, securing a 1-0 victory thanks to a well-taken goal by Zainab Haruna.

For Coach Sampson, however, the result was secondary. As he refines his squad ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, he remains focused on development.

“I am satisfied with how the girls played. I wasn’t really looking at the result, but rather how they would function as a team,” he reflected. “I could see them replicating some of what we’ve worked on in training, which is a good sign. We’ll keep working on areas that need improvement and continue these matches to keep them in shape.”

With just a week in camp, the Black Princesses are intensifying their preparations, step by step, shaping a team ready to take on the world.