The Black Maidens, Ghana’s Under-17 female football team, will travel to Malabo, the Equatorial Guinean capital, this weekend for the return leg of their 2014 Women’s World Cup (WWC) qualifier.
The Maidens who hosted the first leg of the second round tie and won 2-0 in Accra two weeks ago are poised for another good result that will secure them their third successive WWC to be hosted by Costa Rica from March 15 to April 5, 2014.
Despite the threat that Equatorial Guinea pose, the Maidens are optimistic of their chances, with officials claiming already they will qualify for Costa Rica 2014.
Chairman of the Maidens’ management committee, Mr Augustine Asante, told the Graphic Sports that they were ready for the challenge ahead and would not be complacent over the goals by Laardi Issaka and Jane Ayieyam in the first leg.
“The match in Accra is over. The scoreline is not on our minds. We are rather focused on the game on hand and approaching it as if we have just begun the qualifiers. It is important that we remain focused on the trip to Malabo and not what we already have,” Mr Asante told the Graphic Sports.
Head Coach Evans Adotey, who was not satisfied with the scoreline in the first leg, indicated that they were going to play a more attacking game.
“It was obvious that Equatorial Guinea approached the first leg with a defensive strategy. They did not want to concede many goals and so did not open up that much. At home and with their backs to the wall, they would push for goals and thus open and that will definitely give our attackers to also poach for goals. We remain hopeful of our chances,” Coach Adotey stressed.
While the Maidens push for their tickets, there will be another uncompromising match in Johannesburg where South Africa slugs it out with neighbours, Zambia. The first leg in Lusaka ended 3-3 and both sides will be pushing for the winning goal when they meet in Johannesburg.
Nigeria have already picked the first of the three African slots after South Sudan withdrew from the final round of qualifiers.
Graphic Sports/Ghana
