Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-02-21 07:05:35
The Accra Sports Stadium was the scene of the first full training session for the Black Queens, with all 23 invited players in attendance, including new midfielder, Freda Ayisi. Ayisi, who currently plays for Charlton Athletic, joined the team just four days before their important third round Olympic Games qualifier against the Copper Queens of Zambia. The Black Queens are on the verge of making history by qualifying for their first ever Olympic appearance, and Head Coach Nora Häuptle is optimistic about the impact that Ayisi will have on the team’s attack.
Having also qualified for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Coach Häuptle has her sights set on guiding the team to the Paris Games later in August. She had been monitoring Ayisi’s performance during her trip to England, where she watched the English WSL 2 game between Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace Women. Ayisi, who played as a right winger and assisted the only goal for her team in a 1-1 draw, left a positive impression on the coach.
In addition to Ayisi, there were other late arrivals to the team, including Victoria Antwi, Linda Eshun, Jacqueline Owusu Adjei, and striker Gifty Assifuah. With the key match against the Copper Queens approaching, the Black Queens are gearing up for their home game at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, with the reverse tie scheduled to take place in Ndola, Zambia, next Wednesday.
The winner of the tie between the Black Queens and the Copper Queens will progress to the final round of qualifiers, where they are likely to face the winner of the Tunisia versus Morocco game in April for an Olympic Games slot. The Zambian team arrived in Ghana with a confident and buoyant mood, with danger girl Racheal Kundananji expressing optimism about returning home with a favorable result.
The addition of Ayisi to the Black Queens team has been viewed positively by Coach Häuptle, who believes that her skills and contribution will enhance the team’s attack. The overall goal is not only to secure a qualification for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but also to potentially make history by earning a spot in the Olympic Games. The upcoming matches against the Copper Queens will be crucial in determining the Black Queens’ journey towards achieving these ambitions. Whether it’s Ayisi, Antwi, Eshun, Owusu Adjei, Assifuah, or any other player, the entire team is focused and determined to secure victory and advance to the next stage of the Olympic Games qualifiers. With their eyes set on Paris, the Black Queens are ready to give their all in the upcoming matches to make their dreams a reality.
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