Queens return from US training

The Black Queens of Ghana are expected home Saturday after a three-week training stint in the United States of America.

The Black Queens will be without several of their top stars when they arrive in Nigeria for this year's 5TH African Women Championship on October 25.

The coach Isaac Paha-led team will be without African Female Footballer of the Year in 2002 Alberta Sackey, star defender Genevive Clottey, striker Nana Ama Gymafuah, Patience Sackey and a host of others who are out of the team as a result of retirement or slump in form.

The Queens will also likely miss the services of former number one goalkeeper and captain Memunatu Sulemana, who has been out of the team for sometime now.

The experienced goal tender was not even in the squad that was to have clashed with Congo in the final qualifier that was later awarded to Ghana when the Congolese failed to show up in time for the first leg clash in Ghana. She also missed out on the trip to the U.S.

A GFA official hinted newsmen in Accra that, it will be a big surprise if 'Abiba', as the top-class goalie is included in the squad for the 2006 Championship.

Gladys Enti, 31, who plays for Ghana's most successful women's club side Ghatel Ladies FC, will most likely replace Sulemana as she has been her deputy for over four years.

African Female Footballer of the Year in 2003 Adjoa Bayor will lead the Queens to Nigeria.