You are here: HomeSportsSoccer2002 12 13Article 30542

Soccer News of Friday, 13 December 2002

Source: Daily Trust (Abuja)

How We Defeated Super Falcons -Ghana Coach

Ghana coach, Okoo Aryee has explained that intensive training, tactical indoctrination cum the zeal to break falcons dominance of proceedings in the championship, which has lasted close to a decade were responsible for Black Queens 1-0 triumph over the Nigeria side in Tuesday's second group A qualifier.

The coach, apparently excited by the feat pointed out that the Black queens went through rigorous exercise to be able to equate the falcons physical power adding that his side played according to instructions from their technical crew.

Coach Okoo who spoke on an NTA programme yesterday said he ordered the Black Queens to cut off falcons from wing supplies to the central attack while exploiting counter attack to launch offensives against the Nigeria side, who he described as 'a good squad."

The Ghanaian tactician realised his game plan as falcons patience Avre, admonished for her defence splitting passes from the right wing was rendered counter-productive culminating in her substitution by Stella Mbachu whose input passed for us ordinary.

"This win is a big boost for as and we are only going to improve at every game," Okoo Aryee said at the post-match press conference even as Nigeria coach, Okpodu declared that "the loss was an eye-opener for us and it shows that we must take every opponent seriously."

The Black queens maintained captain Albertha Sackey's first half strike till the dot of time which placed them three points ahead of the falcons, occupying the second position with three points where as Ethiopia and Mali tie at a point each after sharing points in their second group A qualifier, having earlier fallen 3-0 and 2-0 to Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

However, Ghana would thread tackles with Ethiopia, to aim at an unbeaten preliminary run while the falcons would battle the malians in their last group match.