Ghana’s Black Princesses were on Monday beaten 2-1 by their counterparts from Austria in their Group E opener at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup ongoing in Colombia.
Two goals in each half of the game were all that mattered for Austria despite playing under intense pressure from the Ghanaians.
Stella Nyamekye’s injury-time strike could only count as a consolation in the match at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota.
It was the first meeting of the two sides in a women’s World Cup.
While the Africans were making a seventh appearance at the tourney, the Europeans were making their debut in a women’s world at any age.
After just 12 minutes of play, the Austrians got their first ever goal at a women’s World Cup through Hannah Fankhauser.
Despite intense pressure to equalise, the Ghanaians went into the break trailing their opponents.
They returned with the same momentum, knocking hard on the door of the Austrians for the needed booster.
However, goalkeeper Mariella El Sherif stood between the Ghanaian attack and the goal.
The woodwork came to her rescue once after captain Stella Nyamekye’s strike hit the crossbar.
A handball in the penalty area in the 71st minute gave Austria an opportunity to double the lead and this was done to perfection by Nicole Ojukwu.
Nyamekye pulled one back for Ghana in a stellar fashion but it was too little too late.
In the other Group E game, favourites Japan beat New Zealand 7-0 to jump to the top.
The Asians will come face-to-face with the Black Princesses on Thursday.
