By: Nii Ayi Tetteh

Ghana's Under-17 female soccer team, Black Maidens, appears battle ready for their World Cup opener against Canada on Monday as they rounded-up their trainging session in style on Sunday at their base in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ahead of the game, Coach Abraham Allotey claims he is looking forward for a win against Canada on Monday as he has been impressive with the team's ouput so far.

Allotey, who also headed the technical team of the then Maidens team in the 2008 during the maiden edition of the competition in New Zealand, believes his side is more than battle-ready for the competition considering what they exhibited to him during their training tour in the United States, where they lost only a game in their five trial matches against solid female college and university teams.

Ghana has been grouped alongside, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland and Canada in Group D.

Ghana is considered one of the strongest women’s teams in Africa at all age groups, Ghana only reached the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand by the skin of their teeth two years ago. After losing their first two qualifying matches, they rallied for late victories in must-win contests over Nigeria and Cameroon to reach the finals.

Once there, the Black Maidens proved they belonged by drawing eventual champions Korea DPR and beating Costa Rica on either side of a 3-2 loss to Germany.

The Germans topped the group, and Ghana went home with valuable experience gained while ending up on four points with an even goal difference.

Coach Abraham Allotey, who led the side through 2008 qualifying and the finals, brought his experience from the previous tournament to bear on the Maidens, who qualified much more smoothly for Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

After Egypt withdrew they only had to win a home-and-away tie in the second round against Tunisia, who also advanced after DR Congo withdrew.

And they almost immediately put the task beyond their North African rivals with a resounding 7-0 triumph in Accra in the first leg and the 4-0 win in the second leg in Tunis was a mere formality.

Black Maidens team:

Margaret Otoo, Ayishetu Simpson, Sawubi Issah, Cynthia Boakye-Yiadom, Grace Adams, Linda Addai, Felicia Djabaah, Sherifatu Sumaila, Jennifer Cudjoe, Alice Danso, Mary Essiful, Beatrice Sesu, Ellen Coleman, Regina Antwi, Rita Okyere, Kesewa Comfort Antwi, Priscilla Okyere, Abdul Rashida Rahman, Rebecca Asante, Ivy Kolli