Sports
Black Princesses open FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup today
The Black Princesses will open their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign against Austria today, Monday, September 2, 2024.
The team have been in Colombia since August 14 in preparation for the biennial tournament that kicked off on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Ghana engaged Mexico and South Korea in two high profile international friendly matches as part of preparations for the World Cup.
The Princesses drew goalless with Mexico before playing out a 2:2 draw with South Korea in the second game.
Coach Yussif Basigi has a fully fit squad going into the tournament and expects his players to fight for the points on Monday.
Captain Stella Nyamekye, Afi Amenyeku, Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah and Comfort Yeboah were all part of the team that won the African Games in March and look set to showcase their talent to the world.
Although this is Ghana’s seventh straight qualification for the U-20 Women’s World Cup, they’re yet to progress from the group stage and know a positive start here will help them address that record.
Head coach Yussif Basigi feels that the Black Princesses are ready to do just that after solid warm-up results last week saw them draw 0-0 with Mexico and then 2-2 against Korea Republic.
Ghana have won just one of their past nine matches in the history of the competition and aim to improver that record in Colombia.
The Black Princesses first match in group E against Austria will take place at the El Techo stadium in Bogotá at 22:00GMT.
Black Starlets midfielder Eric Adu Gyamfi has been named Man of the Match following his outstanding performance in Ghana’s 2-2 draw against Algeria in their opening Group D game at the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The talented youngster delivered a memorable display and capped it with a sensational goal that will surely be remembered as one of the finest strikes of the tournament so far.
After Ghana had taken an early lead through Isaac Barfo in the second minute, Eric Adu Gyamfi doubled the advantage in spectacular fashion on the 10th minute with an audacious long-range volley from the center area that left the Algerian goalkeeper helpless.
His energy, creativity and composure in midfield played a major role in Ghana’s bright start as the Black Starlets dominated large spells of the first half and created several scoring opportunities. The midfielder consistently troubled the Algerian defense with his movement and passing while also contributing defensively whenever the team lost possession.
Despite Ghana surrendering their two-goal lead in the second half, Eric Adu Gyamfi’s individual brilliance stood out throughout the contest and earned him the deserved recognition after the final whistle.
The Black Starlets looked on course for victory after a commanding opening half, but Algeria fought back strongly after the break to score twice before missing a late penalty that could have completed the comeback.
Ghana will now turn attention to their crucial second group game against Senegal on May 17, with the Black Starlets hoping to build on the positives from their opening performance and strengthen their chances of progressing to the next stage of the competition.
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Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has been named on the official eight-man shortlist for the 2025/26 Premier League Player of the Season award.
The Ghana international is nominated alongside his City teammate Erling Haaland, Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya, and Declan Rice, Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, and Brentford striker Igor Thiago.
A season of high-profile excellence, Semenyo earns his spot on the prestigious shortlist following a stunning breakthrough year where he registered 16 goals and four assists in 35 Premier League appearances.
The 26-year-old split his highly productive campaign between two clubs, starting the season in electric form for AFC Bournemouth before securing a high-profile £64 million transfer to Manchester City in January 2026.
The versatile attacker adapted instantly to life under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
He won the February EA SPORTS Player of the Month award after netting three goals in his first five games for City, and most recently opened the scoring in a 3-0 midweek victory over Crystal Palace.
Elite Competition for the Top PrizeThe Premier League confirmed that the winner will be decided by combining a public fan vote with the choices of an expert football panel.
Semenyo faces incredibly stiff competition from the other seven nominees who have dominated the 2025/26 landscape:
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