Queens blow chance of qualification

Accra, Feb 15, GNA - The Black Queens of Ghana on Saturday blew away a perfect opportunity to advance to the final stage of the African Zone Olympic games qualifying match when they lost 3-2 on penalties to their Nigerian counterparts the Falcons at the Accra Sports Stadium. The full time score was one all and after the extra time of 30 minutes with no goal coming from either side that saw both sides on each others throat throughout the action packed game.

The Queens converted their first two penalties through Lydia Ankrah and Adjoa Bayor with keeper Memunatu Suleimana making two brave saves from the foot of Faith Ameh Ajumah and Okozo Onyi for the Falcons. This initial advantage put the Queens on the path to a sweet victory but Elizabeth Baidoo, Florence Okoe and Alberta Sackey failed to convert their kicks thus handing over the match to Nigerians on a silver platter.

It was one match that sent many of the Ghanaians who thronged the stadium trooping home in a gloomy and disappointed mood as they witnessed one of the disappointing episodes in Ghana's football. The match attracted the largest crowd in association football in recent times as the football authorities in ensuring massive support for the homesters gave free entry that allowed as many as could make it throng to the stadium.

With the exception of the upper terrace of the Osu Stand, every available space was filled including the press box which witnessed an invasion of soccer fans dressed in red attire awaiting a victory from the Queens to enable them have a joyous Valentine's day celebration. In spite of the massive home support, the Queens failed to fulfill their promise of winning the game as they allowed the Nigerians to take the lead first in the 51st minute of the game.

This was when Saku Akudo Prudence crossed a ball into the vital area of the Ghanaians which goalie Suleiman failed to grab first time allowing Nkechi Edith the easiest time to tap in the ball for the first goal of the match.

The Queens responded with a swift attack and got the equalizer in the 56th minute when Sackey headed home a cross from Forwa Adjao Gloria to set the packed to capacity stadium ablaze with jubilation.

The Queens lifted up their game and piled more pressure on the visitors but their attackers could not create any clear-cut chance allowing the Nigerian defence to have an easy job of containing any eventualities.

After being under pressure for close to ten minutes, the technical team of Nigerian side made some substitutions by introducing Mmady Nkeiruku for Akudo and this paid off for them as they were able to turn the heat on the Queens.

The Queens lived at the edge of the knife for the last ten minutes as the Nigerians remained a constant threat to them, while the Queens only managed occasional dangerous moves that did not click. The efforts of the Queens as well as their counterparts could however not bring out a winner in the game as the game traveled unto the extra time.

The extra time of 30 minutes could also not produce any goal after both teams put up intense effort for the match winner but to no avail. The ever cheering Ghanaian supporters who thronged the Stadium including some Ministers of State and Members of Parliament left in disappointment while the disappointed fans sat glued to the seats discussing what was the cause of the painful defeat of the homesters.

The Nigerians will now wait for the winner of the Angola/South Africa match to determine among them the team to pick the single slot for the Olympic Games in Athens this year. 15 Feb 2004