Black Princesses Arrive in Kampala for U20 World Cup Qualification

The Black Princesses have arrived in Kampala with one job and no room for doubt: finish the job and book another ticket to the U20 Women’s World Cup.

Charles Sampson and his squad touched down in Uganda on Wednesday afternoon, three days out from the decisive second leg of their final qualifying tie. Twenty-three players made the trip from Ghana, a full-strength travelling party for a fixture that could extend the country’s remarkable record at this level.

They travel with a narrow cushion, but a precious one. In Accra last Sunday, the Princesses were forced to dig deep after falling behind to Uganda at the Accra Sports Stadium. The response was sharp and ruthless. Ghana turned the game on its head, striking twice to seal a 2-1 first-leg win and tilt the tie in their favour.

Now the equation is simple. Protect that lead, or add to it, and an eighth consecutive appearance at the U20 Women’s World Cup becomes reality.

Return Leg Details

The return leg in Kampala is set for Saturday, May 9, with kick-off at 13:00 GMT. The stakes are obvious. Win or draw, and Ghana march on to Poland in September, where this year’s tournament will be staged. Lose by the wrong scoreline, and a proud streak spanning seven straight tournaments comes under threat.

The setting will be different, the crowd hostile, the margins thin. But this is exactly the kind of stage on which long-running dynasties either fade away or harden into something even more formidable.