My Queens are ready — Basigi

Despite not having any international friendlies and with barely a week to the start of this year's Africa Women's Championship (AWC), Black Queens coach Yusif Basigi insists he has a team that can play for the title in Cameroun.

The Queens have been at Prampram for close to seven weeks training towards their AWC campaign from November 19 to December 3, but their preparations have been botched by their inability to play any high-profile international trial match to help the technical team have a real picture of the strength and weakness of the team.

Initially worried about the lack of that opportunity, Coach Basigi says the arrival of the invited foreign-based players and their response to training so far have allayed his fears.

Seven foreign-based players -- Samira Suleman, Linda Eshun, Portia Boakye, Janet Egyir, Priscilla Okyere and Elizabeth Addo (all players who helped the Queens win gold at the All-Africa Games in Congo last year) --have joined the team to strengthen the squad which, Basigi believes, is still good enough to have a shot at the AWC title in Cameroun.

"Not getting the chance to play a single top level international friendly was worrying as our group challengers have been busy playing friendlies. However, the arrival of the invited players who have so much experience and exposure has given us an assurance that we are not that bad after all. 

“Of course, if we get to play an international game before the competition begins, we will be grateful, but if not, we will make do with what we have," Basigi told the Graphic Sports in an interview yesterday.

Apart from inviting the known faces in the team, Basigi also indicated that he was eager to have former Leverkusen star, forward Eunice Beckmann, in the squad, but communication between the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the player broke down and she was unable to honour the invitation.

In Beckmann's absence, Florence Dadson responded to a late call-up and arrived to camp last weekend to further give a boost to the team's attack and Basigi believes the maturity of the players, as well as their experience, will complement the vigorous training session they have undergone.

The team will leave for Cameroun early next week but will be in Cape Coast today to play a Central Region select side.

The Queens were to play Cote d'Ivoire in Cape Coast today but the match was called off yesterday after the Ivorians delayed in responding to the invitation.

The Ivorian friendly was set up to replace another botched exercise against South Africa who opted to play a team closer to home instead.

At the AWC, the Queens will compete in Group B against Kenya (Nov. 20), defending champions Nigeria (Nov. 23), and Mali  (Nov. 26).