Charles Sampson praises Black Princesses' character after South Korea win

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/6o7XMs4F/"]Ghana[/a] suffered a 3-0 loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/02PTEciK/"]Ecuador[/a] in their opening Group C game but responded strongly against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/AZPVGiGd/"]South Korea[/a] on Wednesday [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ghana-6o7XMs4F/south-korea-AZPVGiGd/?mid=EePUCyIF"]to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive[/a].[/p][p]The Black Princesses were held to a goalless draw in the first half despite creating opportunities, but came alive after the break to score three times.[/p][embed guid="8cabd4e8-8f7d-4212-9218-512dd61caf69" url="https://x.com/GhanaWNT/status/2097701225332461712?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nyarko-sarah/O2gwmNNO/"]Sarah Nyarko[/a] broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a long-range strike before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osei-ivy/dd5jsuoR/"]Ivy Osei[/a] Owusu doubled Ghana’s advantage three minutes later with a solo effort from the right, chipping the South Korean goalkeeper.[/p][p]Substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/amponsah-ruth/A3PeLcO7/"]Ruth Amponsah[/a] added a third in the 84th minute following a well-worked team move to put Ghana in firm control.[/p][p]South Korea scored a consolation goal in added time, but Ghana held on for an important victory.[/p][p]Sampson was delighted with his players' response after the disappointment against Ecuador.[/p][p][b]“The team really showed up. They showed the character that we know they have in the team; the belief they have for themselves and each other and today they exhibited it exactly how it should be,”[/b] Sampson said after the game.[/p][p]“They made up their mind that we were going to take this game and that is what happened.”[/p][p]The victory moves Ghana onto three points in Group C and gives them a chance of progressing to the next round.[/p][p]Sampson admits there was pressure on his side to respond after the heavy opening defeat but insists his players have remained focused on their objective.[/p][p]“[b]Pressure is part of it. We don't let that destabilise us. We came here with an aim, and we know from long that we have these three countries to play[/b],” he added.[/p][p]The Black Princesses will now turn their attention to their final group game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/8bH2Rc9i/"]France[/a] on September 12th, with the result set to determine whether Ghana can advance to the knockout stage.[/p][embed guid="cbe87b69-7748-4348-a215-e0479e8ad4f2" url="https://x.com/GhanaWNT/status/2097713613188251705?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sampson believes the team must build on the South Korea victory and secure the points required against France.[/p][p]“Unfortunately, we didn't get the result we wanted in the first game. We have now got a result that brings us back into the game. So, we are approaching the France game to get the points that are needed to go further.”[/p][p]Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku was excited by the performance.[/p][p]"To be honest, the girls are happy. Everything is on course. They are extremely motivated. For me, what I call natural motivation is very evident  in whatever they are doing and it is something that excites me."[/p][p]Ghana will therefore head into the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-8bH2Rc9i/ghana-6o7XMs4F/?mid=n9NxBFnS"]final group fixture against France[/a] with their hopes of progressing from Group C still alive after recovering from their disappointing start to the tournament.[/p][image alt="Owuraku Ampofo" id="345f5fd0-6a26-4f45-8078-6462582c5da7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9a9cf3cb-6439-4cbf-bdcf-b016d533b6fe" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]