Ghana head coach Joe Nana Adarkwa says his side have no alternative to victory when they face Canada in their decisive final Group B match at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The Black Maidens meet Canada on Saturday, October 24, at 3:00pm GMT, knowing only a win will keep alive their hopes of reaching the next stage.

Adarkwa said the squad had responded positively in training and understood the importance of the match.

“You can see from the training ground that hopes are very high. They know what is at stake. Whatever it is, we must win. We don't have any option,” he said.

Ghana earned their first point of the tournament in their previous outing, recovering to draw 3-3 with Brazil in an entertaining Group B encounter. They had opened the competition with a 3-0 defeat by Norway.

The coach wants his players to take the confidence from that performance into the meeting with Canada while making the improvements needed to secure the result.

“We are going to continue what we did against Brazil and polish it so that when we get in there, we can make it. Without a win we cannot come out from the group, so we have to win and we are going to win,” he added.

Adarkwa also said the players would need to rely on their own belief during a match that will determine whether Ghana remain in contention.

“Before a player plays matches like this, when it is time to play a deciding game, nobody will psych you. You psych yourself without the coaches or without the psychologists. They know what is at stake and they are going to deliver for us.”

Ghana have one point from their opening two matches. The defeat by Norway left them needing a response against Brazil, and the draw means victory against Canada is now essential if they are to have any chance of progressing from the group.

Adarkwa ended his assessment by asking for support from supporters in Ghana as the Black Maidens prepare for the decisive fixture.

“We need prayers and support and nothing else.”

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