Black Princesses Coach Yussif Basigi on team preparation, threat of Senegal and making another FIFA World Cup: Transcript

Black Princesses Coach Yussif Basigi has been providing updates on preparation, team integration, being under pressure to qualify for another FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and plans to stop Senegal in the final round of qualifiers.

The Princesses are currently camping at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram in readiness for the final two legs against Senegal.

Read on for the transcript:

On preparations

Preparation is ongoing and now that the Ampem Darkoa Ladies players are in, we are putting the pieces together to raise a team out of the lot. It has been going well so far and we are not looking back because we know what it takes to qualify to the World Cup and we don’t need to take it lightly because Senegal is not a bad side and we won’t underrate them.

On player integration

Fortunately, two of the foreign based players were with us during the WAFU tournament in Kumasi so they are not new to our team tactics. As professionals as they are, when they come to join the team, whatever strategy we want to map up, they will be quick to pick it up.

On pressure to qualify Ghana to another World Cup 

There is no pressure on me knowing the team has made it to the World Cup since 2010. It motivates me to rather do better because I was one of the coaches that qualified the team to the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2018 so I am looking forward to qualify the team to another World Cup and it is going to be a record. There is no pressure on me but rather I am highly motivated to qualify the team.

On quality of Senegal 

Senegal is not a bad side. Physically they are strong and we have that at the back of our mind so we will know how to map up our tactical ploy to play them.

On Support from Ghanaians 

This is the last hurdle before we qualify to Columbia so we need the support of Ghanaians as usual. The team will do their best to make them happy since they’ve been very supportive. They should continue with their support so we will raise the image and flag of Ghana high.

The Black Princesses will play Senegal on Saturday, January 13th 2024 at the Thies Stade Lat Dior.

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