Ghana coach Yusif Basigi has accepted playing some of his players out of position in their U-20, women’s world cup opening loss to host country France.
According to him, those decisions were made after critically examining the fitness levels of his players.
The Princesses were handed an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in their Group A opening fixture at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes on Sunday.
Ghana struggled to cope with the host incessant threat especially in the early start of the game and saw them concede three goals in the first half.
Emelyne Laurent struck on the 6th and 31st minute before Fercocq made it 3-0 six minutes later.
But back from recess, the Ghanaian team upped their game as they looked a bit comfortable on the ball and pulled one back in the 58th minute when Grace Asantewaa played in Sandra Owusu-Ansah, who then rounded goalkeeper Mylene Chavas before finishing her chance to make it 3-1.
But substitute Sandy Baltimore capitalized on rebound free kick to seal a 4-1 victory for France on the 97th minute.
”Those supposed to play that role, some are on injury list, Normally, we have utility players who can also occupy that position. That was why I had to play those players at that position” Basigi said in response to Footy-Ghana.com’s question on his decisions to play the likes of Kate Agyemang, Grace Asantewaa and Erestina Abambila.
Nonetheless, the Ghanaian trainer failed to figure out the specific players he said were carrying ‘knocks’ in a subsequent question.
”As we all know that football is a contact game, there were knocks here and there. I wouldn’t say it was an injury that rule a player out of a game but looking at the nature of the knocks that they had at our last sessions before we came, the doctors were working on them in order to put them in shape so it isn’t something that will take them out of competition. Hopefully in our next game, they will be fit enough to play” said Basigi.
The Princesses nest game will be against Netherlands who defeated New Zealand in their opening game.
The coach however hinted there would obviously be changes in his team that will face the Netherlands.
”Now we are going to the drawing board to correct our mistakes. Definitely we would do some changes in other to make our second game competitive.”
