Coach Charles Sampson Names Black Princesses Squad for 2026 World Cup as Ampem Darkoa Ladies Dominate WAFU B Qualifiers

Ghanaian women's football is entering a high-stakes period as the national U-20 team, the Black Princesses, finalized their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Poland, while domestic champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies secured a vital semi-final berth in the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers. These developments underscore a period of significant activity and success for the sport, with both club and national teams currently pursuing continental and global honors.

Ampem Darkoa Ladies displayed remarkable resilience in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Nigeria’s Edo Queens 2-1 on August 30. Despite trailing in the first half, the Ghanaian champions found an equalizer through Rebecca Assemani shortly after the break. Milot Pokuaa then netted the winning goal in the 78th minute, ensuring the team finished at the top of Group B with a perfect nine points. The victory sets up a crucial semi-final clash against host side USFA on September 2, where the winner will qualify for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

On the international stage, Black Princesses head coach Charles Sampson has officially unveiled his 21-member squad for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The roster features experienced players including goalkeeper Najat Abdul Salam, defender Alexandra Tay, and forward Jennifer Dawah. However, the squad faces a significant depth challenge as five vital players have been ruled out of the tournament. Most notably, the team will be without captain Linda, alongside teammates Comfort and Jessica, all of whom are sidelined with ACL injuries.

This tournament marks Ghana's eighth consecutive appearance at the U-20 World Cup, and the Princesses are determined to advance beyond the group stage for the first time. Their campaign in Poland begins on September 6, 2026, against Ecuador, with subsequent group matches scheduled against South Korea and France. As the nation rallies behind the U-20 side, the immediate focus remains on Ampem Darkoa’s quest for regional dominance, as both teams represent the growing standard of the Ghanaian women's game.