Queens faces big challenge

Accra (Greater Accra) - The Black Queen's hope of making their second appearance at the 2003 women's world cup competition could be far from arms reach, unless a miracle happens.

The Queens, face a big challenge as they make their second journey into this year's African Women's Championship (AWC) in search of continental honours.

Incidentally, the Queens who were the runners-up to the Falcons of Nigeria in the maiden tournament two years ago in Nigeria, face each other again in group two, at the second AWC competition schedule to come off in South Africa from the 14th-28th October.

The group considered by experts as the group of death also has Cameroon and Morocco. The Queens open their group against the Falcons on the 15th of October.

Ghana's second match is against Cameroon on October 18 while Morocco lock horns with the defending champions, Nigeria in titanic duel. The Queens clash with Morocco on the 21st, while Cameroon take on Nigeria on the same day.

In group one, South Africa the hosts, who were eliminated by the Queens two years ago, play a less fancied team, the Reunion, while Uganda sort thing out with Zimbabwe on October 14. Reunion comes face to face with Zimbabwe while South Africa plays Uganda on October 17.

The first round ended successfully with Egypt beating Reunion by 4-3, while Gabon went down by 0-3 against Cameroon.

Morocco also thrashed Algeria by 3-0 while Zimbabwe walloped Lesotho 4-0.

The Queens were the only team who qualified without kicking the ball following the withdrawal of Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso from the competition.

Perhaps Ghana should have also taken a clue from these two countries and also withdraw from the competition considering the countless problems being faced in terms of preparation for the competition.

The already dormant team, which went to camp in June had to go back home to make way for the senior national team, the Black Stars.

They are the only side who have not had the chance to play an international match since their return from 'USA 99'.

With barely six weeks now for them to go, no international matches have been organised for them to see how ready they are now for the tournament.

Even though majority of the players is made up of the USA 99 squad who have had the taste of international soccer, there are some newcomers such as Basilia Amoah-Tetteh of Ghatel Ladies, Accra, Gloria Aikins of Oforikrom, Kumasi and Doreen Awuah, Ghatel Ladies, Takoradi among others.

Their trip to Lagos to engage the Falcons on July 15 never materialised while that of South Africa also could not come on.

The Falcons, the defending champions are bound for the Sydney Olympics and will come back a more prepared side while the Bayana Bayana, playing as the host will leave no stones unturned to ensure their qualification.

The task is now on Oheneba Charles, chairman of the Black Queens management committee who should sit up and see to the team's preparation for the competition.

He admits that their chances are very slim because the team had not had any match to toughen them since Sierra Leone pulled out.

He also talked of contacts for international friendlies between the Queens and their Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso counterparts but said no reply has been received yet.

A heavy challenge therefore awaits Coach S K Paha as he takes on his first international assignment to lead the Queens to victory.