Joe Nana Adarkwa reveals how praise and incentives revived Ghana’s Black Maidens

Ghana U-17 women’s coach Joe Nana Adarkwa says praise, encouragement and financial incentives helped restore the Black Maidens’ confidence as they recovered from an opening defeat to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Black Maidens began their Group C campaign with a 3-0 loss to Norway but responded with a 3-3 draw against Brazil before defeating Canada 2-0 to secure a place in the knockout stage.

Their improved performances reflected a change in confidence within the squad, according to Adarkwa, who said his technical team focused on motivating the players and helping them learn from their mistakes.

Ghana’s progress continued in the Round of 16, where they eliminated Argentina after a 1-1 draw in regulation time and a 5-4 victory in the penalty shootout.

The team had to cope with playing with 10 players following a sending-off but held their nerve to advance.

Adarkwa explains how Ghana rebuilt confidence

The opening defeat against Norway presented an early challenge for Ghana, but Adarkwa said the players remained determined to turn their campaign around rather than leave the tournament at the group stage.

He recalled seeing that determination during the team’s preparations for their remaining group matches, with the players convinced they could produce the results needed to progress.

“When we were in camp, you could see from their faces that we didn’t have to go home and that we’d win the game and stay. And lo and behold, it happened,” he said.

The coach explained that the technical staff placed considerable emphasis on positive reinforcement as they worked to improve the team’s performances.

Rather than concentrating solely on errors, the staff sought to encourage the players while guiding them towards correcting the weaknesses exposed in their opening match.

“We praised them because, for our girls, you have to praise them all the time before you let them know their mistakes,” Adarkwa added.

The approach was intended to help the young players regain belief in their abilities and approach subsequent matches with greater confidence.

Financial incentives provide an additional boost

Adarkwa also revealed that financial incentives formed part of the team’s efforts to improve morale during the tournament.

The coach said the measures helped strengthen the players’ spirit as Ghana worked to build momentum following their disappointing start.

“We gave them some incentives to boost their morale, and now you can see that everything is on top; their spirit is on top. We’ll wait and see what happens in Wednesday’s game.”

The improved atmosphere within the squad coincided with Ghana’s recovery in the group stage.

The draw against Brazil kept the team in contention before the victory over Canada confirmed their progression to the knockout rounds.

Their subsequent performance against Argentina provided further evidence of their resilience, as the Black Maidens continued to compete despite being reduced to 10 players.

Black Maidens overcome Argentina to reach quarter-finals

Ghana’s Round of 16 encounter against Argentina ended 1-1 after regulation time, forcing the contest to be decided by penalties.

The Black Maidens held their composure in the shootout, winning 5-4 to secure their place in the last eight.

Jessica Appiah converted the decisive penalty to complete the victory.

The result marked another significant step in Ghana’s recovery after the 3-0 defeat by Norway and rewarded the team’s determination throughout the competition.

Adarkwa’s comments highlighted the importance his technical team placed on confidence and motivation, alongside addressing mistakes, as the players navigated the challenges of the tournament.

Having reached the quarter-finals, Ghana will now seek to maintain their improved form as they continue their campaign in Morocco.

The Black Maidens’ response to their opening setback has given them renewed momentum, with their resilience against Argentina providing another test of the belief developed during their recovery.