The senior national women’s football team, Black Queens started camping on Monday at the Accra City Hotel as they prepare to take on their Guinean counterparts in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifiers.
The Queens, who were originally scheduled to camp at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence will now be based in the capital for intense preparations.
They will travel to Conakry for the first leg before hosting the second leg in Accra between July 10 and 18, 2023, the Ghana FA has announced.
Returning to the Queens camp after a long break are UKS SMS Lodz multitalented midfielder Ernestina Abambila, Jennifer Cudjoe of FC Nordsjaelland’s and sensational attacker Alice Kusi, who plies her trade with Turkish side Fernabahce.
The trio have been conspicuously missing from the team for close to five years. The last time Ernestina and Alice played for the Black Queens was in 2019 during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Qualifiers, which the Queens failed to pick a slot after battling against Gabon and Kenya.
Jennifer, on the other hand, has been away for some time now after dragging the Ghana FA on social media, expressing her displeasure about the unprofessional handling of the team, especially ill-preparations towards some major tournaments.
The three players have, however, been in top form at their various clubs which may have caught the attention of the Queens’ Head Coach Nora Häuptle.
While Alice, who joined Fernabahce in March this year from ZFK Spartak Subotica has scored two goals, Ernestina has garnered three goals at Fernabahce with both players recording some crucial assists for their teams.
Other Players
Other players invited are FC Kiryat Gat’s forward Adubea Princella, Grace Asantewa of Real Betis Feminas, Evelyn Badu who plays for Avaldsnes FC and Agbomadzi Blessing Shine of AS Far Rabat.
The home-based players include Northern Ladies and Black Princesses goalkeeper Afi Amenyaku, Doris Boaduwaa (Hasaacas Ladies) Appiah Martha (Berry Ladies), Amponsah Mary (Ampem Darkoa Ladies), Alhassan Adama (army Ladies) and Nyamekye Stella (Dreamz Ladies).
Ghana yet to qualify
The Black Queens are yet to make an appearance at the Olympic Games. Their hope of making it to the competition in Tokyo was dashed in 2019 after suffering a 0-1 defeat to the Harambee Starlets of Kenya in the final round of the qualifiers.
SOURCE: GraphicOnline
