Ghana coach Robert Sackey has spiked reports attributed to Namibia U-20 coach Jacqueline Shipanga over allegations of age-cheating by Ghana.
Following the Black Princesses' 10-0 aggregate scoreline over both legs against Namibia in the qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, Shipanga made specific age-cheating allegation against striker Dadson.
“That number 14 (Dadson) is apparently 15 years old but she is a university student in the United States (of America) for the past two years. Are you trying to tell me that she went there (USA) as a 13-year-old?,” said Shipanga.
But Sackey hit back, describing the Namibia coach as a ‘bad loser’ who ‘is crying over spilt milk.”
“I’m so surprised by her claims. She is a bad loser,” Sackey told Ghana Football, the GFA's official newspaper.
“A coach is supposed to know the background of his opposing players and I’m surprised she doesn’t even know the background of the players of the [Black] Princesses. If she knew she would not have made this funny and strange claims because she would have known that these are players that didn’t just appear with new passports to play for Ghana. She is just crying over spilt milk.
“These are players who have been playing for Ghana at different age groups.
“Take Florence (Dadson) for instance, she claims Florence is 15 years which is a lie. Florence is 20 now and this is not a secret. She has played for the Damsels and the Maidens and her records are there to prove her age.
“She played at the last World Cup in Germany two years ago when she was 18. She’s 20 now and the rule permits her to play in the competition this year and can only be ruled out next year.”
“The right age to go to the university in the United States is 18 and Florence went there two years ago when she was 18.”
Ghana will play South Africa in the second qualifying round of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup as they chase one of the continent's two places in the finals to be hosted by Japan.