Queens are best ranked in Group B

(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Hanover, Germany}

Hanover, Oct. 25, GNA ~ Ghana's Black Queens will participate the 7th African Women Championship in South Africa in six days time as the best ranked team in Group B.

Ghana with her ranking are the best in the group that houses defending Champions, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria and Cameroon in the two week women's soccer fiesta that qualifies the two finalist to the next FIFA World Cup billed for Germany in 2011.

The Queens, ranked second in Africa and 43rd in the world, will as usual travel to South Africa as perennial tournament favourites whose ranking was not even affected by the team's exit at the group stage at the last tourney in Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria per the rankings are better than the defending champions Equatorial Guinea and the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon. Ranked fourth in Africa and 66 in the world, the North Africans' position is somewhat surprising, especially because they are considered underdogs in the women's game on the continent largely because of their exploits and pedigree.

Right behind Algeria in Africa is Equatorial Guinea who are fifth in Africa and 70 in the world despite being the defending champions and taking the competition by storm as host.

The Lionesses are the least ranked on the continent of all the four teams in Group B. Sitting at eighth and 76 globally, the physical Cameroonians may be underestimated at anyone's own peril.

Ghana has played in all but two of the last six grand finales of the eight team competition and will make another attempt at winning the tourney for the first team in South Africa.

Of all four teams, Ghana and Cameroon have played at every edition with the later being the runners up in the 2004 edition.

Equatorial Guinea were debutants in 2006 and won the tourney at their second time of asking two years on as host whilst the South Africa event remains Algeria's third appearance at the continental gathering. Ghana plays her group opener against Algeria Africa on November 2.