By

Eniola Olatunji 

Africa’s entry at the world U20 football tournament in Colombia on Monday morning exited the age group tournament for the 7th time at the group stages despite a 3-1 victory over New Zealand at Cali in group E.

It was a painful match for Salamatu Abdulai who missed the enviable record of being the first Ghanaian player to score a hat-trick at any tournament finals by whiskers.  

Salamatu headed home Ghana’s first goal of the game in the 59th minute via Baah Kumah pass and in the 72nd minute got the 2nd goal when Nyameke connected her but what would have been her hat-trick in the 90+5th minute hit the leg of New Zealand Goalkeeper, but a ricochet found the leg of Tracey Taum for Ghana’s 3rd goal.

Junior Football Fern of New Zealand had initially made it 1-1 at the 64th minute when Pijnenburg found Manaia Elliot who lobbed the ball over Ghana’s Goalkeeper, Janna Sapong. 

VAR as usual played great role in the match rejecting a goal for New Zealand in the 11th minute; rejected a 32nd minute goal for Ghana and also cancelled a 70th minute penalty call for New Zealand.

Ghana outclassed New Zealand statistically with 20 -7 shots at goal; 9-3 on target; had 60-40% ball possession; stringed 397-247 passes showing better game control though New Zealand got to be rough with 5-3 foul calls with the only yellow card going to the Rugby popular team while the corner kicks were 7-6 to Ghana.

Ghana and New Zealand met twice on 14th November 2016 when New Zealand won by a lone goal and on 12th August 2018 when Ghana got a sweet revenge by a lone goal.

New Zealand was in her 8th appearances at the games with best performance a quarterfinal at Canada 2014 when she lost 1-4 to Nigeria. Nigeria that year lost the finals to Germany by a lone goal.

The Black Princesses of Ghana who came to the party for the 7th time are now only Group appearances major having been ousted at the group stages in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and now 2024.

Maya Hijikata got another brace against Austria in the 38th and 79th minutes something she did against New Zealand in the 7-0 banging to make her goals haul 4 at the tournament.

Yes Japan shredded New Zealand 7-0 and Austria beat Ghana 2-1 in the first round and Ghana suffered 1-4 loss while Austria beat New Zealand 3-1 in the 2nd round.

Japan topped group E with 9points and +12goals difference to set up a Round 16 date with Nigeria; Austria chalked 6 points with +1 goal difference; Ghana at least won a match to earn 3 points with -2 goals deficit to place 3rd and New Zealand was 4th with no point and a deficit of 11goals.

The Round of 16 matches starts on Wednesday 11th September with Spain taking on Canada at 2230 hours in Cali while at the same time and date, Brazil will play samba game with Cameroon at Bogota.

On Thursday 12th September at 0200 hours Nigerian morning, hosts Columbia will play the never say tired South Korean girls at Cali and on that date and time Yankee Babes will tackle fellow Continental team of Mexico at Bogota.

Same Thursday at 2230 hours North Korea and Austria will size each other up at Medellin while same time, the German Machine will be in operation against Argentina at Bogota.

The Falconets have a difficult task to dismantle the high tech Japanese team on Friday 13th September at 0200 hours at Medellin while two European nations France and Netherlands will clash at the same time at Medellin to conclude the Round of 16 matches.