Queens reach AWC final

.. and qualify for World Cup
Oghara, Delta State, Nov 9, GNA -- It was the heroic exploits of Ghana's Black Queens goalkeeper Gladys Enti that stole the show to propel the team to the finals of the African Women Championship (AWC) when they chalked a hard won 1-0 victory over the Bayana Bayana of South Africa in their semi final game played at the Oghara Stadium on Tuesday. Even though the goal that made the difference was an 88th minute penalty scored by Florence Okoe, it was the Ghatel Ladies goalkeeper who won the gathering over with her incredible saves that ensured the qualification of the Ghanaians and their stay in the game.

The Queens who have thus set a date with the Super Falcons of Nigeria for the grand finale have also qualified to represent Africa alongside the latter at the next FIFA World Cup slated for the Republic of China in 2007. The Queens who were favoured by pundits before the game, lived under pressure from the blast of the whistle and it took the sharpness of keeper Enti, who until this game was considered among the weaker links in the team to make two crucial saves in the first three minutes to keep the Ghanaians going.

The South Africans, known for their skilful and aggressive play, overwhelmed the Ghanaians and dominated play with ease and the midfield trio of the Queens made up of skipper Adjoa Bayor, Sheila Okine and Okoe laboured to hold their own.

With fine inter-positional play aided by a slippery pitch due to a heavy down pour, the Bayana Bayana proved their quality as they shuffled well, pieced their passes together, created openings and gingered the crowd that originally stayed behind the Ghanaians.

They relied on slippery striker Veronica Phewa to wear down the Queens defence that gave room for Makhanya Memory to fire from all cylinders.

Ghana, however, had a rear breathier in the 21st minute when a clearance from petit Mavis Danso picked our Tahiru Rumanatu. The player paced two markers and powerfully drove a half volley but the keeper of the South Africans', Chimeloane Ituneleng who was called into action for the first time proved equal to the task.

The South Africans started the recess a more deadly side.

With the Queens middle wobbling, Bayana Bayana who had sworn tender and fire to revenge their 0-3 loss to the Ghanaians in 2004, captured the middle where Nkosi Belinda and Modise Portia proved to be masters in their own right.

They mounted series of pressure on the Queens but it was ever-green Enti who stood between them and victory with unimaginable saves that consistently forced the dignitaries including Alhaji Issah Hayatou, President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) applauding. In an apparent search for that serenity in the middle, coach Isaac Paha made two quick substitution that saw Lydia Ankrah and Gloria Oforiwaa coming in for Bayor and Tahiru respectively.

As the clock ticked, it was the Queens that felt the most pressure as on two occasions keeper Enti was forced to dive to her elastic limit to make some saves that otherwise will have nailed the team. The clearance by Queens was trapped by a South African who sent a back pass to goalkeeper Chimeloane and for the first time in as many minutes, Anita Amankwaa who had stayed anonymous all day followed up with the pass.

The goalkeeper made a mess of the ball whilst trying to tip it to safety but it was too late for her.

Petit Amankwaa, touted as the revelation of the tournament, took the ball and went around the goalkeeper leaving her no option than to bring the enterprising striker down.

Referee Sagno Therese from Guinea rightly awarded a spot kick to the Queen which Okoe expertly converted to set a third grand finale meeting against arch-rivals, the Falcons of Nigeria at the Warri Stadium on Saturday, November 11 and who have won all four previous competitions.

In the other Tuesday game hosts and defending champions Nigeria thrashed Cameroon 5-0

Ghana will play Nigeria, who have won every African Championship since 1998, in the final.

The Black Queens are the only team ever to have beaten Nigeria in an AWC game, that was at the 2002 event.

Ghana's reward for making it to Sunday's final is automatic qualification (with Nigeria) for next year's World Cup in China.

LINE-UP: Gladys Enti, Ama Saabi, Mavis Danso, Olivia Amoako, Aminatu Ibrahim, Florence Okoe, Doreen Awuah/Florence Adutwumwaa, Sheila Okine, Anita Amankwaa, Adjoa Bayor/Lydia Ankrah, Tahiru Rumanatu/Gloria Oforiwaa.