"It is not as if we are throwing sour grapes, just because we have lost. Rather, this is the fact and it is up to the organisers to do something about this. It is not good for African women’s football."

"We as host nation have a big task to win the sompetition as well but is not going to come easy."

"Why can't female players and coaches be celebrated as well?"

"We have a task ahead of us and we can go to the Championship to deliver whatever we can. I think we have the qualities and the players that can face all this countries – opponents."

"This year, I've had quite a bit of luck, but luck doesn't just come like that, you need to provoke it. I've been working really, really hard on that but there's still room for improvement"

"We are not going to underrate any country. We would play match after match and improve match after match."

"You know in the past we lost in the finals three times but this time around we have the advantage to redeem our image so we must do everything possible to win."

"I was having my period regularly, there were no signs of me being pregnant."

"During our time, we could not make money from football and even the way we were paid left us in debt before we even receive our bonuses."

"It is not so easy to come after your father in the sense of the expectations being so high back home and in Europe"

"In our last tournament, we didn’t perform well so this is our chance to lift the trophy for the first time. Most players now have the exposure so I think with this preparation, we can lift the trophy."

"We are all serving the same Ghana as the male players and coaches."

"It’s all about heart."

"The first one, two or three times is to get a feel and see how it goes after."

"It’s actually a different group of players. Here, there are totally different players from different clubs so it’s not really the same compared to my club. But seeing the quality of players we have here, I think we going to a have a great game and a great time here."

"When I started schooling, my parents didn't want me to play football because I was always coming home dirty."

"Whenever I’m listening to Radio and watching TV, I hear how they(the media) promote and fight for the Black Stars and other Men’s national teams at the expense of we the Female teams which shouldn’t be the case."

"It’s sometimes sad and disheartening how the people of Ghana especially the media have just neglected us and say nothing about our teams."

"I have believed and very confident we can make mother Ghana proud when the competition begins."

"I have been talking to my colleagues, trying to motivate them that we can make a name for ourselves and the country."

"We still believe we can qualify so we are going there to fight and get the win."

"People tell me that I don't have the killer instinct or aggressiveness in front of goal. But I am in a team where we need to work for each point. I can't just stand up front and wait for the ball and try to take people on and shoot. There are other things I need to do and I enjoy doing them"

"I've always thought that I was a good finisher, but sometimes you just need a bit of luck"

"My mum has always kept me with my roots, even though she's English. She's always made the African peanut butter soup and the fufu, and eating kenkey and Gari."

"I hope I can add a lot more … not just goals, but assists, leadership and encouragement."

"Never been interested in any other sports. My parents were really supportive. My parents are very educated so they know the value of combining education with sports. My dad bought all the necessary things I needed to play."

"My first thought was … to make Ghana be spoken about in a very, very good light in women’s football."

"I am so proud to be Ghanaian."

"My message is simple: keep supporting us, keep praying for us. We promise to give our best and bring the trophy home. Thank you."

"Ummm I think you need to be willing to learn, be positive, most of of all be persistent and don’t give up easily, you have to be coachable and not complacent, be humble and listen to good advice from your coaches and experienced players. I think that’s it."

"I've played football since I was very young, around four years old, when I saw the boys playing, and one of the dads of the other kids saw my mum and was like: 'Bring her down to the football that the boys do'."

"Other than that, model your training so your intensity and the way you think will be the same as the professional game. It’s a lot of sacrifice. There’s so many things you miss out on because you need to stay focused. But it’s going to pay off for sure."

"Sometimes you will lose, sometimes too you will win but I think we can build on the positives from now."

"“Reach out to teams like I did. Send a bunch of emails to coaches. It’s all about getting the chance, because for me, I don’t have an agent, and if I didn’t go to the (Sky Blue FC) tryout, I wouldn’t have ever had the chance."

"Sometimes I keep reminding myself like, How did this happen? How did this happen? You know, but I feel like it’s hard work and if you believe in it, and you have the right people around you to push you to work harder. For me, people see where I am now. But it’s not easy, this journey."

"WAFCON is the biggest women’s football competition in Africa. It’s always a great opportunity to play on such a huge stage, and I’m super excited to represent Ghana again."

"I didn’t necessarily choose soccer. I just accidentally started playing and with time I was actually good at it. So I kept going."

"Yes, the challenges I faced was being called names in my community. Names like, manwoman, boygirl and even a prostitute. And there are a lot of misconceptions about female athletes. That you won’t be able to give birth and finding a husband would be difficult. But am glad that people’s perception is changing everyday about women in sport’s."

"It was the craziest feeling I’ve ever felt. I wanted to be on the field and I had these little tears, you know, looking at the crowd, the way game was played. And I said, this is where I belong. That’s the words that came out of my mouth. This is where I belong."

"It was hard for me to make friends, and my English wasn’t that good."

"Getting to this stage of the tournament is a big deal, not just for us as players but for the entire country."

"There are still changes that need to be made to help women’s soccer in Ghana. And I hope one day I can help to make that change, help push it to be more professional, you know, it’s difficult to be seen (by scouts and agents) which makes it hard for them (women’s players) to get out."

"I knew at the age of thirteen that I wanted to be a professional player. Now growing up in my country, soccer is there but it’s not as organized as a club or, like they would do here (in the US). I don’t know, it’s fun, but also it’s not as competitive as playing club."

"It’s always a great feeling to represent your country."

"I’ve been through a lot going to school in a foreign country. Had to do jobs on the side to pay for my expenses. In the end it was really worth it."

"Where I grew up, when you’re a kid, everybody, especially the older people when they see you play, they call on you based on the player that they think best fits your style. When I was like, eight or nine years old, Kaka was my role model. I always loved watching him play for AC Milan, and Brazil. So, one day I was playing with the boys and I needed a name to play. There was this old man who was sitting right next to the field and he was like, ‘Oh, you’re like Kaka from Brazil.’ Pretty much from then on I was Jen Kaka."

"No matter how [much] people would say ‘you’re a good player, you’re a great player,’ you always wanted that validation for yourself, feeling like I actually did it."

"It’s very important. When I check my social media, I see people who post about me and send encouraging messages. We definitely inspire many, especially the young ones who dream of playing for Ghana one day."