Black Princesses head coach Yussif Basigi has highlighted the crucial nature of their upcoming match against Japan for their hopes of advancing from the group stage of the 2024 U20 Women’s World Cup.

Ghana's U20 women's national team will face Japan on Thursday night at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Colombia.

The Black Princesses suffered a 2-1 defeat to Austria in their Group E opener, while Japan delivered a dominant 7-0 win over New Zealand.

Despite the daunting challenge posed by the tournament favorites, who claimed the title in 2018, Basigi remains hopeful and determined.

“We’ve taken the pain to psych the players up, to put the game behind them, and look forward to the next game,” Basigi said.

He acknowledged that many might view Ghana as underdogs, given Japan’s impressive performance, but he believes in his team's potential.

“We see ourselves as serious contenders. We’ve made them understand that a defeat will not be good for us. Not at all,” he added.

Ghana has struggled in past U20 Women’s World Cups, failing to advance past the group stage in six previous attempts.

As they prepare for the crucial match against Japan, the Black Princesses are focused on making a strong statement and securing a positive result to keep their hopes alive.

In other Group E action, Austria will play against New Zealand at 1 a.m. on Friday, adding further intrigue to the group's dynamics.