Black Queens eye Tunisia win
Ghana’s senior female football team, the Black Queens, have dismissed any suggestion that the bonus arrears owed them could affect their play as they face Tunisia in a 2016 African Women's Championship (AWC) qualifier today.
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The Queens are in Tunis where they are billed to play their Tunisian counterparts in the first leg of their second round qualifier the winner of which would qualify for the 10th edition of the AWC to be hosted in Cameroun later this year.
Rumours are rife that the Queens have been relunctant to play these qualifiers as the Ministry of Youth and Sports had not honoured its promise of paying up all the bonuses accrued from their gold-winning effort at last year's All Africa Games.
However, captain Mercy Myles have dismissed those rumours, insisting they are eager to win and qualify for the AWC to make up for 2016 Olympics miss.
"We are disappointed that the bonuses are still in arrears despite the promises of it being paid. However, that is not occupying our attention right now. Our focus is to play and win and qualify for the AWC as that will at least in a way make up for our missing out of this year's Olympics.
"Indeed, if it were that we did not want to play, we would not have emplaned to Tunisia in the first place. We are here for business and the agenda is to get a favourable draw that enable us qualify for Cameroun 2016," Captain Myles told the Graphic Sports in an interview.
Indeed, from their training, there's nothing to suggest that the ladies have any other motive another than to play and possibly win.
Coach Yussif Basigi though not revealing his starting line up, has hinted he's strategising for a win but will also keep his defence tight.
"Our aim is to win and wrap it all up in Tunis before the return leg in Accra on Tuesday. we haven't had much information about our hosts, but we have a vague idea and have thus mapped up a plan to get he desired results. Our worse performance for tomorrow should be a draw," Coach Basigi told the Graphic Sports.
with his plan of scoring more goals, his starting line up could have these players: Patricia Mantey, Hillia Kobblah, Cynthia Adobea, Janet Egyir, Linda Eshun, Juliet Acheampong, Mercy Myles (captain), Samira Sulemana, Portia Boakye, Princella Adubea and Wasila Diwura-Soale.