Charles Sampson laments defensive lapses after Black Princesses’ 3-0 loss to Nigeria

Black Princesses head coach Charles Sampson has voiced disappointment over the goals his side conceded during their 3-0 defeat to Nigeria in the 2025 WAFU B U20 Girls’ Cup on Tuesday, November 11.

The defeat in Benin brought Ghana’s campaign to an end after four matches — two wins against the host nation and two losses to the Falconets.

Nigeria took control of the game early, scoring twice in the first half before adding a late third to seal victory and complete a double over Ghana in the regional competition.

While Sampson acknowledged his team’s effort throughout the tournament, he expressed frustration at the defensive lapses that cost them the game.

“I’m very, very satisfied with many things, but our lack of concentration to concede a goal like this, of course, is a hard one to take in. But the purpose of coming here is also to see certain things about us that we need to develop and also to see how we handle different situations,” he said.

Despite the defeat, the Black Princesses’ coach chose to focus on the positives, emphasizing that the experience gained will be crucial for the team’s development ahead of future assignments.

“With that said, I’m very, very happy that we’re able to experience this while we have something great ahead of us, which we are looking forward to,” Sampson added.

The Ghanaian tactician remains optimistic that the lessons learned from the WAFU B tournament will serve as valuable preparation for Ghana’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa in 2026, as the team aims to build a stronger and more cohesive unit.