By Caleb Kuleke
Ho, Sept. 13, GNA- The Black Princesses, have been officially eliminated from the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup following a crushing 4-0 defeat against France in their final Group C match on Saturday.
Heading into the high-stakes clash, the Princesses harbored hopes of making history by progressing past the group stage for the first time.
However, a dominant second-half performance by the French team shattered those dreams, sealing Ghana’s group-stage exit from the global tournament.
With the defeat, there is no remaining hope for the Black Princesses in this year’s tournament.
The team finishes at the bottom of Group C with just three points, earned from their previous 3-1 victory over South Korea, failing to advance even as one of the best third-placed teams.
The final whistle sparked widespread disappointment across the Volta Region, particularly in Ho, the Volta regional capital.
Football fans who had gathered at a pub at Ho-Kpodzi to watch the game were left in utter disbelief as the goals poured in during the second half.
“We really believed this squad could break the jinx this time, especially after the win against South Korea,” George, a taxi driver said.
“To concede four goals in such a crucial game is heartbreaking,” a visibly distraught fan, who refused to give his name to the Ghana News Agency, said.
As the reality of the elimination set in, the disappointment quickly turned into a heated blame game among fans.
A significant section of them have directed their anger at the Head Coach.
George lambasted the Coach’s tactical approach during the match, arguing that the team looked disjointed and failed to adapt when France took control.
He told GNA that the Head Coach should be removed immediately, including the entire technical team.
Ghana needs a fresh technical direction for women’s football, George added.
However, others argue that the root of the problem lies much deeper than the technical bench.
Kpormenor, a plumber, pointed fingers directly at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He said the Princesses suffered inadequate pre-tournament preparations, alleging that the team was not given the necessary resources, high-profile friendly matches, or logistical support required to compete effectively.
With the tournament now over for Ghana, stakeholders are calling for a thorough review of how women’s football is managed and financed in the country to prevent another premature exit on the world stage.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade