Ghana Captain Owusu Ansah Ready for World Cup Challenge

Linda Owusu Ansah, captain of Ghana's U-20 women's national team, is set to showcase her skills on the world stage after scoring the decisive goal that secured the Black Princesses' qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026™. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder's journey to the global finals has been marked by resilience and a love for challenges.

A Dramatic Qualification

Ghana's path to Poland was anything but straightforward. In the second leg of the African play-off against Uganda in Kampala, the Black Princesses found themselves a goal down and a player down, trailing 1-0. Having won the first leg 2-1, Ghana needed to avoid defeat to progress. With just 12 minutes remaining, the pressure was immense.

Owusu Ansah rose to the occasion, keeping her composure to score a stunning free-kick from near the corner flag. Her perfectly struck effort curled into the far top corner, sending Ghana to the U-20 Women's World Cup for the eighth consecutive edition.

A Tough Group Awaits

Ghana have been drawn into Group C alongside Ecuador, France, and Korea Republic. Owusu Ansah acknowledges the difficulty of the group but remains optimistic. "We are in a very tough group," she said. "France, Korea Republic and Ecuador are all great football nations but we will try our best to make it out of the group stages. We know it will be a huge challenge for us but we are Ghana and we always love challenges."

Preparation and Experience

To prepare for the tournament, Owusu Ansah has made a move to Northern Super League club AFC Toronto and gained valuable experience as a squad player at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. She believes this exposure will benefit her at the U-20 World Cup. "I feel like taking part of the WAFCON will help in my World Cup preparation in the sense that I will be able to train and play with very experienced players and learn a lot from them," she explained. "So coming into the U-20 World Cup, I will be coming with a little bit of experience."

Ambitions and Playing Style

Owusu Ansah describes herself as a direct midfielder who loves to play forward, create chances, and score goals. She also prides herself on being a clutch player. Her ambitions extend beyond the U-20 World Cup: she aims to win the African Women's Footballer of the Year award, lift trophies with her country and clubs, and potentially earn the European Player of the Year honor one day.

With high hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time, Owusu Ansah is confident in her team's ability. "I saw the resilience we showed during the qualifiers and how together we play as a team," she said. "I feel if we can continue with the same spirit, we can go far in the World Cup."