Black Princesses head coach Charles Sampson has praised his players for showing character and belief after Ghana bounced back from their opening defeat to beat South Korea 3-1 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The victory has revived Ghana’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage after the Black Princesses suffered a difficult start to their campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Ecuador in their opening Group C match.
Ghana needed a response against South Korea, and the players delivered it with a strong second-half performance that earned them three important points.
Speaking after the match, Sampson said the team showed the qualities he had always believed were present in the squad.
“The team really showed up. They showed the character that we know they have in the team; the belief they have for themselves and each other and today they exhibited it exactly how it should be,” Sampson said after the game.
The coach was particularly pleased with the way the players reacted after losing their first match.
“They made up their mind that we were going to take this game and that is what happened.”
Black Princesses respond after Ecuador defeat
Ghana entered the South Korea game under pressure following the 3-0 loss to Ecuador.
The result meant the Black Princesses had little room for another poor performance if they wanted to remain in contention for a place in the next round.
Instead of allowing the opening defeat to affect their confidence, the team returned to the pitch with a different attitude.
The first half ended goalless, but Ghana became more dangerous after the break and eventually found the breakthrough through captain Sarah Nyarko.
The midfielder produced a long-range effort in the 52nd minute to give Ghana the lead and provide the team with the confidence it needed.
Just three minutes later, Ivy Osei Owusu doubled Ghana’s advantage, putting the Black Princesses firmly in control of the match.
South Korea continued to push for a way back into the game, but Ghana defended their advantage before substitute Ruth Amponsah completed the scoring in the 84th minute.
The final score gave Ghana a much-needed 3-1 victory and moved the Black Princesses onto three points in Group C.
Sampson says pressure did not affect his players
With Ghana needing a positive result to keep their tournament alive, there was considerable pressure on the players before the match.
However, Sampson said pressure is part of football and insisted that his team would not allow the situation to destabilise them.
“Pressure is part of it. We don’t let that destabilise us. We came here with an aim, and we know from long that we have these three countries to play,” he added.
The coach also acknowledged that the defeat to Ecuador was not the result Ghana wanted, but said the victory over South Korea has put the team back in a position to compete for qualification.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted in the first game. We have now got a result that brings us back into the game.”
That result means Ghana will enter the final group match knowing exactly what is at stake.
France now stand between Ghana and the knockout stage
The Black Princesses will face France in their final Group C match on September 12, 2026.
The match will be crucial because Ghana need another positive result to strengthen their chances of advancing to the next round.
Sampson said the team is already focused on that challenge and will not allow the excitement of beating South Korea to distract them from the bigger objective.
“So, we are approaching the France game to get the points that are needed to go further.”
The win over South Korea has therefore changed the mood around the Black Princesses.
After the disappointment of losing their opening game, Ghana now have three points and a chance to fight for qualification in their final group fixture.
Sarah Nyarko leads Ghana’s response
Captain Sarah Nyarko played an important role in the turnaround, opening the scoring early in the second half with a long-range strike.
Her goal came at a crucial moment because Ghana had spent the first half without finding a breakthrough.
Once the captain put the Black Princesses ahead, the team quickly built on the momentum.
Ivy Osei Owusu’s goal three minutes later gave Ghana a two-goal cushion, while Ruth Amponsah’s late strike ensured that the victory was secured in convincing fashion.
The three goals also demonstrated the difference between Ghana’s two group matches so far.
Against Ecuador, the Black Princesses struggled to find a response after falling behind and eventually lost 3-0.
Against South Korea, they remained patient, found their chances and finished the match strongly.
Ghana must now finish the job
The victory over South Korea is important, but the Black Princesses cannot afford to relax.
Their final group match against France will determine whether their improved performance can lead to a place in the knockout stage.
Sampson’s message after the game was clear. Ghana came to the tournament with an objective, and the players still believe they can achieve it.
The defeat to Ecuador made the road more difficult, but the victory over South Korea has given the team another opportunity.
For the players, the challenge now is to carry the confidence from the South Korea match into the France game.
They will need another disciplined performance, while taking their chances when they come.
The Black Princesses have already shown that they can recover from disappointment. Their next task is to show that they can complete the comeback by securing the result needed to continue their World Cup journey.
For now, the 3-1 victory has given Ghana renewed hope.
As Sampson and his players prepare for France, the focus is no longer on what went wrong against Ecuador.
