Motivations are high as Ghana face hosts Cameroon in the semi-final of the 2016 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations today.
The Indomitable Lionesses successively denied the Black Queens a place at the last two Olympic Games.
The Ghanaians, on the other hand, beat the Cameroonians 1-0 in the final of the 2015 All Africa Games, courtesy of an 88th minute Portia Boakye strike, after sharing the spoils at the group stage in a 1-1 draw.
Thus, the Queens are separated from the Lionesses by a thin line going into Tuesday’s clash, perhaps made so by the latter’s home advantage.
Ghana will, nonetheless, be boosted by the result on their last visit to Cameroon – a 1-1 stalemate in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games qualifiers last year.
Their confidence is on the high, judging by their performance in the championship thus far.
But for a 1-1 deadlock with heavyweights Nigeria, the Black Queens have won every other game by a 3-1 scoreline.
Elizabeth Addo (three goals), Samira Suleman (two goals) and Portia Boakye (one goal) have been outstanding so far. However, coach Yusif Basigi’s outfit has conceded three goals so far, one in each of the three games played.
Cameroon boast of a solid outfit that formed the nexus of their side that reached the last 16 of the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Coach Enow Ngachu’s ladies opened the ongoing tournament with a 2-0 triumph over Egypt, before 1-0 and 2-0 wins over South Africa and Zimbabwe respectively.
Cameroon are yet to concede, largely thanks to goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom, captain Manie Christine and central defensive partner Awona Marie.
“We are ready to face the team that will run for the semi-finals,” Ngachu has said.
“For the semi-final, we will put an all conquering and determined team.”
Cameroon, like Ghana, are three times losing finalists, a status that highlights the closeness of both teams.
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