U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022: Ghana thump Guinea in Conakry
Ghana’s Under-17 female football team, the Black Maidens earned an important 3-1 away win against Guinea in their third round qualifier of the 2022 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
The match played last Saturday in Conakry was one of six matches played in the ongoing qualifiers to select Africa’s three representatives for the eighth edition of the tournament scheduled for India.
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Though the Guineans proved a tough side and got a goal in the 46th minute, the goals from captain Georgina Aoyem (13th), Rasheeda Shahadu (31st) and Mariam Matiti Iddi (59th) handed the Maidens an important advantage ahead of the second leg encounter in Cape Coast on April 30.
The Maidens opened the scoring in the 13th minute through captain, Georgina Aoyem who finished off a corner kick initiated by Comfort Yeboah.
Proving more superior in terms of play, the Maidens dominated the game for the first 20 minutes and could have taken a 2-0 lead had they taken their chances.
The Guineans, knowing the threat they faced from a better exposed Ghanaian side, showed some grit but they eventually caved in and conceded three goals.
They showed they could also be a threat and in the 27th minute, Maidens’ goalkeeper Amina Ahamadu scored full marks when she bravely thwarted a goalscoring effort from the Guineans.
The Guineans despite going down 2-0 before the break, resumed the second half with a stronger urge and got a goal from a goalmouth melee. That goal was their consolation in the 3-1 scoreline.
Almost eight minutes later, the Maidens increased their goal tally from an Iddi goal as she completed an effort from Success Ameyaa.
At the end of the game, the Maidens’ head coach, Baba Nuhu described the performance of his team as ‘satisfactory’ as they played according to his game plan.
He was disappointed that they were still wasteful as they could have scored more goals.
“Despite the training we had to improve upon our finishing, we still squandered some chances, but that surely, we will get better,” Coach Nuhu assured, saying that the second leg will see an improved side as they intend to complete what they started in Conakry.
Other games
In the other qualifying games, Morocco was the highest scoring side in this round, putting 11 past Niger in their encounter played in Niamey.
There was no such joy for South Africa as in Johannesburg, they shockingly lost 0-3 to Ethiopia.
Zambia also lost 0-2 at home to Cameroun in their game played in Lusaka, Tanzania won 4-0 away to Burundi in Ngozi, while Nigeria were 4-0 winners against visiting Egypt who they hosted in Abuja.
The second leg of these games will be played on April 30, with the eventual winners progressing to the fourth and final round to pick the three representatives for 16-team tournament slated for between October 11 to 30.
