Contrary to rumours that the Egypt – Ghana female football Olympic qualifier is off, the match will go on as scheduled on Saturday, and Ghana’s Black Queens are off to Cairo to honour the match.
Throughout last week and up till last Monday, there was media speculation that Egypt had pulled out of the 2016 Olympic qualifiers, handing the Black Queens a walkover to the next stage. However, football’s world governing body, FIFA, last Monday confirmed that the match was on, advising the Queens to head for Cairo. Meanwhile, Queens head coach, Yussif Basigi, told Rite Sports that they were ready for the trip and were not taking the match for granted.
According to the coach, they don’t know much about the Egypt team, but they are not taking anything for granted.
Our African Women’s Championship slip against Algeria last year has taught us a big lesson.
We head for Cairo psychologically ready for the challenge,’’ Coach Basigi said.
The Queens head for Cairo, set to miss two key players – Hasaacas Ladies ‘Samira Suleman and Linda Eshun – who have travelled to Iceland for trials.
These two players have played an important roles for the Queens and though their experience will be missed, Coach Basigi says their replacements are capable of pulling it through.
‘’No doubt Samira and Linda will be missed, but they are not with us and we have to move on. Thankfully, there are no injuries and everyone is fit and raring to go. We will see how it pans out in Cairo on Saturday,’’
Eighteen players have been named for the with no surprise additions.
The players are: Fafali Dumehasi, Patricia Mantey, Hillia Cobblah, Rosemary Ampem, Janet Egyir, Edem Atovor, Cynthia Adubea, Juliet Acheampon, and Mercy Myles.
The rest are: Elizabeth Addo Grace Asare, Grace Adams, Agnes Aduako, Portia Boakye, Faiza Ibrahim, Jane Ayieyam, Diana Ankomah and Mary Essiful complete the list.
The Queens return on Monday to prepare for the second leg, which will be played on May 30th 2015.
Source: ritesports/ritefmonline.org
