Black Maidens head coach Joe Nana Adarkwah says his side must reach the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup after beating Argentina 5-4 on penalties in Morocco.

Ghana survived the final 13 minutes with 10 players after Hajara Adam was sent off, before Jessica Appiah converted the winning penalty to seal a 1-1 draw turned shootout victory in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, October 28.

'We are waiting for our next opponent, and we will deal with them, whatever it is. We have to qualify to the semi-finals,' Adarkwah said after the win. Ghana will face the winner of the Round of 16 tie between Japan and Kenya in the quarter-finals.

Adarkwah also disclosed that while the Ministry of Sports and Recreation has paid the team's per diems at the tournament, their qualification bonuses from the group stage to the knockout stage remain outstanding. 'That is the only one we are waiting for,' he said.

Ghana's best finish at the tournament remains the bronze medal won in 2012, when the team lost to France in the semi-finals before beating Germany in the third-place play-off. The Black Maidens also reached the quarter-finals in 2014, 2016 and 2018 before missing several editions and returning in 2026.

Sources: GhanaSoccernet, SportsWorldGhana, FootyGhana, Graphic.