Preview: Black Queens to ride over Guinea today

Black Queens coach, Nora Häuptle, may have stayed in Ghana for just a few months but is highly conscious of the great expectations that Ghanaians have for her team as they take on the Syli National Women of Guinea in the second leg of the first round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Despite the fierce competition expected from their group opponents Guinea, Zambia and Morocco, Ghanaians, who love their football, will continue to believe in the Queens’ ability to qualify for the Olympic Games notwithstanding their poor history of several failed attempts.

Indeed, expectations are high this time round as the Ghanaians come face-to-face with the Guineans at the Accra Sports Stadium at 4pm on Tuesday, July 18. And Coach Nora as well as her charges are optimistic of being as good as anticipated.

Already, the Queens boast of a 3-0 away victory after the first leg played in Conakry on Friday, July 14, after Mary Amponsah, Doris Boaduwaa and Evelyn Badu scored a goal each.

Ernestina Abambila (left), Janet Egyir (middle) and Stella Nyamekye at training

The Swiss coach appears satisfied to be with that dominant performance and hoping to go for the kill as they play before a vociferous home fans today.

“I was very satisfied with how we brought our idea to the pitch, how we analyzed our opponent very well and we had a good control over the game,” she said at a pre-match presser on Monday, July 17.

She continued: “Looking forward to tomorrow to play in front of a lot of spectators and we winning the second game against Guinea.”

Goalkeepers Cynthia Fiindib, Safiatu Salifu and Kerri MCcarthy  at training

The Ghanaian team boasts of both experienced and young talents, including longing-serving Hasaacas Ladies’ defender, Linda Eshun, Janet Egyir of Hapoel Jerusalem Katamon and Portia Boakye who plays for Djurgarden IF.

Likely to be selected in the starting line-up to handle the midfield are SMS Lodz sensation Ernestina Abambila, Jennifer Cudjoe of Nordsjaelland and Evelyn Badu of Avaldsnes FC.

In attack, Coach Nora may settle on Princella Adubea of Kiryat Gat FC, Doris Boaduwaa of Hasaacas Ladies, and Mary Amponsah of Ampem Darkoa Ladies while she may feature Cynthia Fiindib Konlan in post.