Ghana get AWCON started with win over Algeria

Geoffrey Mwamburi in Accra, Ghana

Hosts Ghana defeated Algeria 1-0 to get their 2018 African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) off in winning fashion as the biennial continental showpiece kicked off at the Accra Sports Stadium in the capital.

Gladys Amfobea struck the winner in the 12th minute, rifling a swerving effort past goalkeeper Kahina Ouada after a failed clearance from the Algerian defence had landed kindly in her path.

The goal was a worthy reward for the Black Queens for showing greater desire right from the start and should have gone ahead earlier with an effort from skipper Elizabeth Addo but it went off the post.

A goal-line clearance from Habiba Sadou had prevented Portia Boakye from scoring in the 10th minute but there was no stopping the hosts for a third time as a Amfoeba connected a sweet half-volley for the opener.

Algeria’s first effort came courtesy of a corner from Isma Ouadah with Fethia Bekhedda applying the headed effort which was calmly collected by Ghanaian keeper Patricia Mantey as her side went into the break leading 1-0.

Algeria were in need of a goal but head coach Fertoul Radia’s change at the break involved a fix in the backline with Madina Ramdani with Assia Sidhoum in central defence.

It served little to keep away the hosts who should have doubled their advantage in the 70th minute after Grace Asantewaa hit the back of the net but the substitute’s effort was ruled offside.

“I can say Ghana defeated us because we did not have some of our best players who were out due to injury. Ghana is an experienced team, they played very good football but I congratulate my team for a good fight,” Algeria coach Radia said.

His counterpart Hayford Basir Kweku was far from impressed by the result and criticised his players for being ineffective in front of goal.

“We may have scored more than five goals but we wasted  only that my players lost a lot of chances. I will watch Mali playing against Cameroon and I believe come November 20 when we will face them in our second match, we will defeat them,” he said.

With the win, Ghana went top of Pool A at least on temporary basis before Mali and Cameroon who are also in the four-team group kick off their campaigns later Saturday.