Her seven goals after a quarterfinal elimination was enough for Ghana’s Mukarama Abdulai to emerge golden boot winner at the just ended 2018 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
She tied with Spain and Barcelona B striker Clàudia Pina as top scorers but with fewer games, the Ghanaian was handed the accolade.
Fifa wrote:
adidas Golden Boot: Mukarama Abdulai (Ghana)
Abdulai’s haul of seven goals in four games at Uruguay 2018 not only played a key role in her country advancing to the quarter-finals, it also meant that she overtook Jane Ayieyam as Ghana’s all-time top scorer in the history of the competition.
- adidas Silver Boot: Claudia Pina (Spain)
- adidas Bronze Boot: Irene Lopez (Spain)
Mukarama was 3 goals ahead of Pina in the chase for the top scorer award after Ghana exited the competition as a result of a penalty shootout defeat to Mexico.
But Pina went on to score three more to catch up with the Black Maidens captain – one in the semis and a brace in the final which propelled Spain to a 2-1 victory over Mexico for the Europeans to clinch the World Cup trophy Saturday night.
In total 86 goals were recorded in 32 matches at Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup, Uruguay 2018.
Bronze Ball winner
Mukarama also bagged a second award at the U-17 Women’s World Cup, emerging as the third best player.
- adidas Golden Ball: Claudia Pina (Spain)
- adidas Silver Ball: Nicole Perez (Mexico)
- adidas Bronze Ball: Mukarama Abdulai (Ghana)
A satisfied Mukarama
The 16-year-old Northern Ladies striker is proud of her personal achievement though her aspirations for Uruguay 2018 were cut short by Ghana’s exit.
“I’m very happy, although I’m also a bit sad that we didn’t win the ultimate prize. I set a record at the competition and I’m very proud of that.
“Scoring 7 goals at a world cup is a big achievement and I’m very happy,” Mukarama Abdulai told reporters on arrival from the U-17 World Cup with the Black Maidens.
