Queens, Falcons to set Abuja ablaze

(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja, Nigeria, courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)

Lagos, March 14, GNA - Ghana's Black Queens go into action against Nigeria's Super Falcons in a battle of heavyweights whose outcome determines who picks the continent's one slot at the Beijing Olympic Games later in the year.

The Queens, who had beaten the Falcons only twice go into Saturdays duel as underdogs, needing just a draw to answer their first roll call at the quadrennial summit.

Ghana leads the three-team table with nine points and has come close to qualifying for the competition in which the Nigerians had two appearances.

With Nigeria favoured, Ghana will have to dig deep into the archives and find that resilience and power that silenced the Falcons when they defeated them 1-0 in the African Women Championship in Warri in 2002 to have any realistic chance of travelling to China. The stakes are high for both teams rated first and second on the continent.

Nigeria, as usual start as favourites in the duel pundits believed could easily pass as a final of an African Championship and yet the Queens who will play with attacking strategy recalled Anita Amankwah are optimistic about their chances.

The game would undoubtedly be a cagey one knowing the pedigree of both sides and the rivalry that exits between the two countries. When both sides met in Accra last August, it was that own goal that separated both sides in a game that was engulfed with tension, power, skill, wits and flair and in front of an often partisan home crowd, the Queens are expected to be up against two major forces in search of that slot.

Ghana's skipper Adjoa Bayor and her colleagues would come up against experience folks like Perpetual Nkwacha and new kid Cynthia Uwak who would be looking for the opening in defence to outwit Africa's number one goalkeeper, Meimunatu Sulemanu, who so often remains Nigeria's nightmare.

With the battle lines well drawn, none could afford to make mistakes that would deny them the ticket to Beijing.

Ghana's High Commissioner inspires Queens to beat Falcons

Abuja, March 14, GNA - Ghana's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr George Kumi has inspired the Black Queens to defeat Nigeria ahead of their crucial Beijing 2008 Olympic Games qualifier on Saturday. He told the team after their last training session on Friday: "the whole of Ghana will be behind you to beat Nigeria and carry on the Olympic dream,."

Ghana would be attempting to at least snatch a draw to book an automatic place in the quadrennial event scheduled for Beijing later in the year , a task, Mr. Kumi said, is surmountable.

He urged the team to stay cool and confident about their chances, keeping in mind that Ghanaians are yearning to give them a rousing welcome back home if they succeeded in ending the Falcons' dream. Falcons, five-time African champions are chasing a third successive appearance, an event they have always exited in the first round. Ghana, needing only a draw to advance their dream of a maiden appearance at the Olympics leads the three-team table with nine points, three richer than the Nigerians.

The High Commissioner promised to host the team after the game and encourage them to fight for the results that would ensure that their evening will be worthwhile.

Ghana won the first leg played in Accra last August by a lone goal but realistically starts tomorrow's game as underdogs. The host could climb to the summit of the table with a win tomorrow and qualify ahead of Ghana on superior goals.