Queens face Lionesses in 2016 Olympic qualifier

Ghana’s female football team, the Black Queens, are promising to give the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroun a very tough time when they clash in Yaounde tomorrow for their Olympic Games qualifier.

The Queens face a daunting task in Yaounde, given the fact that the Camerounians, fresh from the 2015 Women’s World Cup (WWC) will be eager to qualify for their second Olympics having ridden at the back of the Queens to the 2012 London Games and believe they have garnered enough international exposure and experience to deliver another Olympics ticket.

Apart from their return from the WWC, the Lionesses also can rely on their physical strength to try to go past the Ghanaians.

Five years ago, it were the Indomitable Lionesses who stopped the Queens from going to the 2012 Olympic Games and though the Queens are not promising revenge for that defeat, they are focussed  on qualification for the Brazil 2016.

According to Coach Yussif Basigi, the Queens after so many years of being among the top teams in Africa, have to be at the Olympics and will fight hard to clear the Camerounian hurdle to achieve their win.

“We know we face a tough hurdle against Cameroun in Yaounde on Saturday, we are determined to get a favourable result from the first leg. Almost five years ago, they dashed our hope when they snatched a late equaliser in Accra and scored a controversial goal in Yaounde to qualify.

“This time around, we will not allow that to happen. We are determined to succeed and we will give the two matches our best shot,” Coach Basigi said as the team emplaned for Yaounde last Wednesday.

He is also counting on the international experience and exposure from his squad, most of him have graduated from the Under-20 World Cup team as well as the core of the Queens who played against the Lionesses in the 2012 Games qualifier.

With his strong 18-man squad, Coach Basigi and his charges know that the road to Brazil is very much dependent on the result in Yaounde as any slip could make it more tough.

The team has Fafali Dumahesi, Patricia Mantey, Rosemary Ampem, Hillia Cobbinah, Janet Egyir, Linda Eshun, Cynthia Adobea, Edem Atovor, Grace Adams, Juliet Acheampong, Mercy Myles(captain), Portia Boakye, Anita Wiredu Mintah, Grace Asare, Safia Abdul Rahman, Samira Suleman, Agnes Aduako and Diana Ankomah