Black Queens forward, Mukarama Abdulai, says she worked hard to earn her return to the squad for the international friendly against Japan next week after an almost five-year hiatus.

The 21-year-old Hasaacas Ladies attacker has been in camp with the team for the past four days as they intensify preparations for the game on Saturday, July 13 at the Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium.

Abdulai had a remarkable season in the Women’s Premier League, scoring 11 goals to emerge as the second-highest scorer.

She also scored the winning goal for the Black Princesses in the 2023 African Games final against Nigeria in March, which was her third of the tournament.

These performances earned Mukarama Abdulai a spot in the Black Queens squad for the Japan friendly.

Asked on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium on what it means to be back with the team, she said, “I would put it in one word, exciting.

“I'm very grateful because at the end of the day, coming back is not something easy and it's not everyone that does it.

“Coming back here has been something I've worked hard to get to. It's been great and I'm very grateful for that.”

‘It’s exciting to be back and I’m very grateful’ – Abdulai Mukarama on her Black Queens return#JoySports pic.twitter.com/N6jEVDchXa

— #EurosOnMGL (@JoySportsGH) July 6, 2024

Mukarama Abdulai made her Black Queens debut in May 2019 against Senegal in the WAFU Zone B Championship and scored in the 2-0 win.

Good win against Senegal yesterday. Happy to have scored my debut goal for the Black Queens. Guess who is here with me again? Grace Animah #WAFU #Ghana pic.twitter.com/kq0IrOpxFn

— Abdulai Mukarama (@AbdulaiMukarama) May 9, 2019

She has not been in the squad since the tournament due to a knee injury that ruled her out of action for almost two years.