Soccer News of Friday, 17 July 2015
Source: supersport.com
Black Queens players
Ghana’s women’s senior team, the Black Queens know they must grind out good results away to high-flying Cameroon on Saturday.
The two sides are meeting in the first leg of the deciding round to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and head coach Yusif Basigi believes his charges’ best option against the Lionesses who showed fine form at the Women’s World Cup not too long ago, is to go tougher on their hosts in Yaoundé.
“Cameroon will be tough. There is no doubt about that and I know that. But we will be tougher on them. We know that to be the only choice we have; to go into the match tougher in all departments.
“We have put our paces together very well and we are ready. I saw all their matches at the World Cup and they were impressive. If they had not been at the World Cup, we may not have seen how good they have become.
“For us, that is a big motivation to seek results off them. Who knows, if we had also been to the World Cup, we may have even surpassed their effort because we also have the quality. We must emulate them and this is the time,” Basigi said to State News Agency, the GNA.
Cameroon are known foes to Ghana as they were the side that denied Ghana a first time qualification to the Olympic Games in London three years ago.
The Queens go into Saturday’s encounter as underdogs and Basigi says it will do nothing to the team’s confidence.
“We are self motivated to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time. It is good we are termed the underdog because when we come out of it we will get some respect.
“We want to prove a point and we know the time to do so is now.”
The Queens are without midfielder Elizabeth Addo who scored in the last game against Egypt likewise forward Faiza Ibrahim who picked up an injury in training. Addo, a former Rivers Angels player is said to have returned to chase greener pastures in Nigeria.
But Basigi insists the return of Samira Sulemana and Linda Eshun from spells in Iceland will up the team’s quality.
“Linda and Samira have just joined the team which is good news because we planned with them in mind. We have also been joined by Fatia Dramani who is getting on track and that is good news for our quality.
Black Queens squad
Goalkeepers: Fafali Dumehasi, Patricia Mantey
Defenders: Hillia Kobblah, Cynthia Adobea, Edem Atovor, Grace Adams, Linda Eshun, Janet Egyir, Rosemary Ampem.
Midfielders: Juliet Acheampong, Mercy Myles, Grace Asare, Portia Boakye, Safia Abdul Rahman, Anita Wiredu
Forwards: Agnes Aduako, Samira Suleman, Diana Ankomah