Sports black maidens

GHANA DRAW JAPAN, USA IN 2016 U17
WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Prince Narkortu Teye
The Black Maidens face a tall order to reach the
knockout phase of the competition following group
stage dates with heavyweights
Ghana have been handed a tough group for the 2016
Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan.
Monday's draw at the Al-Hussein Cultural Centre in
central Amman saw Ghana pitted against 2008
finalists the USA, reigning champions Japan and
Paraguay in Group D.
The Black Maidens open their campaign against
Japan at the Prince Mohammed Stadium on October
1, before clashing with the USA and Paraguay.
Ghana have been ever-present since the inception of
the Women's Under-17 World Cup in 2008.
Nonetheless, a third position at the 2012 edition in
Azerbaijan, beating Germany by a lone goal in the
third-place playoff, remains the West Africans' best
finish.
Cameroon and Nigeria will be the continent's other
representatives in Jordan.
The former drew Venezuela, Germany and Canada in
Group B, while the latter made Group C alongside
Brazil, England and Korea DPR.
The 2016 gathering, the fifth edition of the
tournament, runs between September 30 and October
21.