The 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup brought a tough ending for Ghana’s Black Princesses. Their dreams of making it past the group stage were cut short after Argentina’s critical win over Costa Rica on Sunday. This result sealed Ghana’s elimination from the tournament, even before their final match against New Zealand.
Hope Wasn’t Enough
The Black Princesses knew that to move forward, they needed more than just their own performance. They had to beat New Zealand, but also rely on Argentina to stumble against Costa Rica. The odds weren’t entirely in their favor, but they still had a shot. Argentina, entering that match with only one point, was seen as a vulnerable team.
The group standings had been tight, with Mexico, Canada, and South Korea already holding four points each. Unfortunately, Argentina capitalized on an early chance, scoring a goal that secured their 1-0 win. This victory pushed them up to four points, confirming their spot in the knockout stage and leaving Ghana’s hopes in the dust.
Another Early Exit
With Argentina securing their place, it didn’t matter whether Ghana won against New Zealand or not. A victory would only bring Ghana to three points, which wasn’t enough to advance. This marked another early exit for the Black Princesses, who were hoping to break their long streak of group-stage eliminations. Despite their best efforts under coach Yussif Basigi, Ghana fell short again after losing their first two matches against Austria and Japan.
The upcoming match against New Zealand, scheduled for 11:00 PM on Sunday, has now become a mere formality. It will be nothing more than a consolation game for the team, who had hoped to change their fortune in this World Cup after years of frustration since their debut in 2012.
