Two years ago, Ghana’s Black Queens went to Namibia with the intention of winning the Africa Women’s Championship.
That dream unfortunately ended at prematurely as they failed to qualify from the group stage.
Playing against a relatively unknown Algerian side, the Queens were sure of victory but they were made to pay dearly for that complacency as they lost 0-1, a result that hounded them out of the competition.
Tomorrow, the Queens play their opening game against Kenya in this year’s AWC, but rather be over confident about their chances, the Queens are cautious, taking nothing for granted against the East Africans.
And captain Safia Rahman-Abdul attributes that sense if cautiousness to the lessons learnt from Namibia 2014.
“When we went to Namibia, we were sure of winning or being in the final. Unfortunately we took Algeria for granted in the first game and that cost us. It was a painful, bitter experience but a lesson well learnt and we are guided by it as we prepare to play Kenya on Sunday,” Safia told GHanafa.org.
We are yet to watch any game of the Kenyans, but the coaches have and they have told us they are a good side.
“That is enough to keep us on our toes and we will be ready for them,” Safia indicated.
The Queens, making their 11th AWC and three times runners up, are still in search of their first title and are keen to replicate their gold-winning feat at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo at the 2016 AWC being hosted by Cameroun, incidentalky the team the Queens beat to lift the AAG gold.
Asked the Queens could beat Cameroun again, Safia with a confident smile said” Of course, it is possible. But first things first, we have to beat Kenya on Sunday.”
That will be the second Group B game of the day after Nigeria and Mali have clashed in the first game.
Ghana FA
