Ghana Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa has assured that the team remains fully committed to strict age verification procedures, following past sanctions that exposed eligibility lapses in Ghanaian youth football.
Ghana were previously punished by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which imposed a two-edition ban from the U-17 Women’s World Cup African qualifiers after an age-fraud case in 2022. The sanction prompted a review and tightening of screening systems within the national setup.
Speaking after the Black Maidens’ emphatic 6-0 victory over Togo at the Accra Sports Stadium over the weekend, Adarkwa said the team has since strengthened its checks and systems to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.
“In terms of ages, we are very careful with everything we do. Any player we pick goes through the FA system to confirm eligibility for U-17. There’s no shaking,” he stated.
He also praised the squad’s mentality and hunger, noting that their recent performance is a reflection of their growing confidence.
“The girls are focused and hungry for success. What you saw today is just a glimpse of what we are capable of,” he added.
The dominant win completed an 8-0 aggregate triumph over Togo, booking Ghana’s place in the next round of the qualifiers, where they will face Liberia’s U-17 women’s team.