Ghana’s U-18 Girls Hockey Team announced themselves in style at the maiden Hockey5 Africa Youth Cup in Kenya with a commanding 9-2 victory over Uganda in their opening match.
The emphatic win gives the young Ghanaians the perfect start to their quest for a place at the inaugural FIH Hockey5 Youth World Cup, with only two African nations set to qualify from the continental tournament.
Displaying pace, composure and attacking brilliance, the Ghanaian side dominated proceedings from start to finish, overwhelming Uganda with relentless pressure and clinical finishing to secure one of the biggest victories of the opening day.
Leading by example was captain Eva Amoako, whose outstanding all-round performance earned her the Woman of the Match award. Amoako inspired her teammates with her leadership and tireless display as Ghana laid down an early marker in the competition.
The victory puts Ghana in a strong position ahead of what promises to be a crucial second group match against regional rivals Nigeria. The Nigerians also enjoyed a winning start to their campaign after defeating South Africa 7-4, setting up an exciting West African showdown.
With confidence high following their dominant opening performance, Ghana will be aiming to maintain their winning momentum and move a step closer to securing one of the two coveted African slots at the FIH Hockey5 Youth World Cup.
The Hockey5 Africa Youth Cup, being staged in Kenya, has brought together some of the continent’s most promising young talents, with every match carrying significant importance in the race for World Cup qualification.
Ghana will now turn their attention to Nigeria, knowing another positive result could significantly boost their hopes of reaching the global showpiece.
By: Victoria Kwofie
