Evans Adotey believes Ghana can draw inspiration from their bronze-winning feat at the last U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup as they seek passage into the semi-finals.

The Black Maidens will come up against Italy in the quarter-final at the Estadio Nacional De Costa Rica in San Jose on Thursday. Kick off is at 5:00pm local time (23:00GMT).

Adotey's side must overcome the Azzurrine to reach a second-straight last-four berth at the World Cup.

Despite the challenge facing the Black Maidens, Adotey believes their impressive run in the group stages proves they are capable of surpassing their success at the 2012 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

"At the last edition Ghana won bronze, but the expectation of the Ghana team and myself is to go beyond the bronze medal. Now we prepare for the quarter-final and this is where we want to be," said the Black Maidens coach, Adotey ahead of Thursday's game.

The next 90 minutes would be crucial to Adotey's ambition's as he drums into his players the need for them to be up for the challenge.

"It's all about motivation," he said. "What is left is motivation and we need that to bring them up."

"As a coach, I am not afraid. I am ever ready to battle whoever comes my way."

A place in the semi-final is Adotey's next target and it's one he sees within reach.

"I feel comfortable because my first objective is achieved. In the group stages, I set a target for myself by qualifying for the next round.

"The next step is to move ahead into the semi-final stage," he said.