Black Queens pip Falcons

Accra, Aug 12, GNA - Ghana's Black Queens pushed a bitter pill down the throat of their sworn rivals, the Super Falcons of Nigeria with a lone goal victory when the two sides clashed in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games qualifier at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra on Sunday.

It was the skipper of the Falcons, Christie George who gifted the Queens with the only second win over the continental champions when she conceded an own goal in the 21st minute.

George's back pass meant for goalkeeper Precious Dede kissed the yawning net and set the "starving" Ghanaian soccer fans who had filled every available space at the renovated venue to capacity chanting all evening.

Ghana by the victory thus jump to the top of the four-team table with six points, three points better than the perennial rivals, Falcons who are now lie at the second spot.

Dogged by the absence of influential duo, Cynthia Uwak and Perpetual Nkwocha, the Falcons found it a tall order to get past Ghana's ace goalie, Memunatu Sulemana who proved why she is still Africa's finest in the business of keeping the posts.

On a day that Ghana's playmaker, Florence Oko failed to glitter leaving the middle depleted, Sulemana proved decisive for the Queens' victory as the entire team seemingly lacked shine and urgency. With the Queens defence leaking rather woefully, the goalkeeper had to be in her element twice to save the day for the team even at the closing stages of the game.

Vera Okolo who was on a crucial one on one situation had the upper hand to put the Nigerians on level terms after she had thorn the team's weak rear built around Patricia Ofori to shreds, but Sulemana was on hand to make a perfect calculations to rob the skillful striker of the ball to keep the score line unchanged.

With occasional flashes of brilliance, characterizing moves orchestrated by gifted skipper Adjoa Bayor, the Ghanaians however failed to threaten the visitors goal area and rather stayed under pressure all through the proceedings which they managed to hold to the end to ensure a sweet victory over their nemesis.

The Queens' next opponents will be Banyana Banyana of South Africa in Pretoria later in the month. The Ethiopian ladies complete the group.