Black Queens won’t have it easy - Cameroun coach

Cameroun’s national team coach, Enow Ngachu, is promising hell for Ghana’s Black Queens as they clash in their Olympic Games qualifier at the Accra Stadium this afternoon.

The two sides played a 1-1 drawn game in the first leg in Yaounde, sparking a ray of hope that the Queens could make it past the Indomitable Lionesses at home in the second leg.

However, Coach Ngachu says it will be just a big dream if the Queens think their home advantage means victory.

“We have just returned from the Women’s World Cup (WWC) and we want to be at the world stage again by qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. The result of the first leg doesn’t give anyone a big advantage. It’s an equal chance and we are in Accra to claim victory,” Coach Ngachu told the Daily Graphic after the team’s official training yesterday.

Reminded of being possibly made to have a taste of the bitter pill they forced down the throat of the Queens four years ago in a similar competition, Coach Ngachu said, that was the more reason why they felt encouraged that ‘something good’ would come out of the game for them.

“We have not forgotten about that. Indeed, we are encouraged that it is possible to get another good result in Accra again. We are in Accra to ditch the Queens plans yet again,” he said.

The Queens will not have to just contend with Cameroun’s will to qualify at their expense, but they also face a physically strong side who are not shy to use their strength to their advantage. The last time the two sides met in Accra, as many as four key players of the Queens were at the receiving end and three had to be replaced while the fourth played half fit after receiving several knocks.

Despite the threat from the Camerounian coach, his Ghanaian counterpart, Yussif Basigi, insists the Queens fully understand the threat their guests pose, but they are determined to win at all cost.

“Of course, no one goes into a battle expecting to lose so we understand the Camerounians. Unfortunately, it’s an advantage for Ghana and we will fully utilise that. We know it will be a tough game, but we are ready for the fight,” Coach Basigi said.

At this point, it is not the talking but the strategy that Basigi would play that will give them the desired result.The arrival of Elizabeth Addo, Samira Suleman and Linda Eshun  certainly is a boost for Basigi as he maps a strategy to beat Cameroun.

Indeed, he has a full complement of a squad that boasts of quality, skill and experience. Coach Basigi refused to reveal his starting XI but judging from their training he could rely on the team that played and earned the draw in Yaounde two weeks ago, though there could be a few changes.

The winners of this tie will play Cote d’Ivoire, who earned a walkover into the final round following the withdrawal of Zimbabwe from their tie.