Nana Joe Adarkwa labels Black Maidens clash with Brazil a must-win

Nana Joe Adarkwa, head coach of Ghana's Black Maidens, has declared the team's upcoming fixture against Brazil as a "must-win" encounter to keep their 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup campaign alive. Following a bruising 3-0 defeat at the hands of Norway in their opening Group C match, the Ghanaian side enters the game under significant pressure. The match is scheduled for October 21 at 18:00 GMT, where the Maidens will face a Brazilian side currently sitting at the top of the group table after their recent victory over Canada.

Speaking ahead of the critical encounter, Adarkwa emphasized the non-negotiable nature of the result if the team intends to progress to the knockout stages. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task but insisted that his squad is determined to turn their fortunes around. "We have to win at all costs," Adarkwa stated, highlighting the urgency of securing three points. The coach noted that while Brazil represents a formidable challenge, the Black Maidens are focused on correcting the defensive lapses and offensive inefficiencies that characterized their first outing against the Norwegians.

The Group C standings currently leave little room for error for the Ghanaians. Brazil leads the group, and a failure to secure a positive result on Monday would leave the Black Maidens' qualification hopes hanging by a thread ahead of their final group stage match against Canada on October 24. Adarkwa and his technical team are expected to implement tactical adjustments to counter the technical quality of the South Americans while seeking the clinical finishing necessary to keep their World Cup journey on track.