THE timely arrival of five Black Queens players from abroad has lifted the gloom over the team's preparations towards the African Women's Championship qualifier against Senegal, next month.

The players include Elizabeth Baidoo, Adwoa Bayor and Basilia Amoa Tetteh who arrived from the United States of America last week.

According to a source close to the team, the three players were in the U.S. to finalise arrangements in their bid to pursue their education in that country.

The source also revealed that the players have since joined Ghatel Ladies to Burkina Faso for an invitational tournament. Ghatel Ladies won the competition last year and are expected to defend it.

The rest of the players who arrived during the week are Patricia Ofori and Rebecca Amanfo.

The two, according to the source, were in China for three months at the invitation of the Chinese FA.

They have since been given a week's rest by the Queens' handlers and are expected to join their colleagues next week.

The source also hinted in a related development that the newly-appointed coach for the Queens, Oko Aryee, assumed duty last Wednesday at the National Sports College in Winneba to take over the job.

This was after a five-member National Women's Football Committee had unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the former head coach, P.S.K. Paha earlier in the week.

The FA Management Committee has since endorsed the decision and recommendation of coach Oko Aryee.

The national female team will now play Senegal in the final eliminator to the third African Women's Championship in Nigeria between September 20 and 22, following the withdrawal of Guinea Bissau.