Ghana brims with confidence as AWCON gets underway in Accra

Geoffrey Mwamburi in Accra, Ghana

The head coach of Ghanaian’s national women football team, Bashir Hayford , is exuding confidence ahead  of the 2018 African Women Cup of Nation (AWCON) opening match against Algeria to be staged at the Accra Sports Stadium from 6.30 pm (East African Time) today.

Ghana who defeated South Africa 1-0 in their final warm-up game five days ago held their two sessions training yesterday at El Wak Stadium, and according to coach Bashir, they have what it takes to thrash their northern Africa counterparts, Algeria.

“The training went well. I have been monitoring my girls and so far I can say they are set to go, I have no worries and I believe we will defeat them,”Bashir said ahead of the opening game of this year’s edition of the women continental showpiece that has however been dogged by controversy following a last minute shut out of Kenya from the competition.

Ghana will depend on their sensational forward Elizabeth Addo who plies her trade with America’s Seattle Reign together  with Juliet Acheampong who is based in Sweden to spearhead the striking department.

Ghanaian Minister for Youth and Sports Isaac Isiamah told Citizen Digital that the Ghanaian government has promised to offer GH₵ 50,000 equivalent to Ksh 1 million to the girls  if they beat Algeria in today’s clash.

Isiamah however challenged  the Black Queens to take advantage of the home ground advantage to win the tournament to reclaim the lost glory. Ghana captain, Elizabeth Addo, on her part said they are more than ready to face Algeria warning them to expect a very tough encounter.

“We understand teams from Northern Africa are tough but Ghana is a house hold name in football. It is long since we hosted continental tournament so we have no option but win it. This tournament, I believe, this will motivate us to achieve our goal,” she added.

Apart from the mouth-watering match, one more game will be squared later from 8.30pm E.A.T pitting Mali and Cameroon at the same venue – an all West Africa affair.

On Sunday, defending champions Nigeria will begin their title defence when they face South Africa from 6.30pm Kenyan time as Zambia entertain Equatorial Guinea — the team that took Kenya’s slot  from 8.30 pm. Both matches will be played at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in Cape Coast.

Kenya were locked out of the showpiece after CAF overturned a decision by its Disciplinary Council to disqualify Equatorial Guinea after they had fielded an ‘ineligible player’ during their qualifying match.

Kenya subsequently lodged an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but were unsuccessful.

In its application for urgent provisional measures, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had sought to have Starlets included as the ninth team at the biennial continental showpiece.

Fixtures

Saturday

Ghana v Algeria- 6.30pm

Mali v Cameroon- 8.30pm

Sunday

Nigeria v South Africa- 6.30pm

Zambia v E. Guinea- 8.30pm