Oti-Akenten rues Okoe’s absence

The Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Francis Oti Akenteng has described the unavailability of injured Black Queens captain Florence Okoe for next month’s Africa Women’s Championship in Namibia as “very painful” but insists Coach Yusif Basigi will find a perfect replacement for the Police Ladies midfielder.

The 29-year-old former Tennis Borussia Berlin player has been ruled out of the Namibia 2014 tournament after failing to recover in time from a left knee injury she suffered while playing for the Black Queens in the continental qualifier against Burkina Faso in March.

“Definitely it’s very painful. That is why it’s very good that you have two to three people in a position and I think has adequately dealt with the situation.

"It’s very sad. We wish Okoe was with us. It would have made a difference anyway. You know how she unifies the whole team,” Oti Akenteng told Accra based Starr 103.5FM