Women’s AFCON:

Can Ghana’s Black Queens go beyond their usual 3rd place?

After 10 appearances at the Africa Women’s Championship, AWCON, the Black Queens of Ghana who had occupied the third position in the history of the tournament more than any other club (three times), will face Nigeria, Mali and Kenya in Pool B.

                Playing the maiden competition in 1991, the Black Queens were eliminated at the Quarter finals. So far, their 10 times participation has seen them emerge three times as finalists ((1998, 2002, 2006), three times on the third position (1995, 2000, 2004), three times eliminated at the group stage (2008, 2010, 2014).

                They however failed to qualify for the 2012 edition that was hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

                Throughout their 37 games played in 10 appearances at the AFCON, the Black Queens have won 18 games, drawn six and conceded 13 defeats, scored 61 goals and conceded 42 giving a goal difference of 19.

                Although considered among the giants of African Women’s soccer, the Black Queens are no longer the formidable force they used to be in the early editions of the AWCON. During this early period of the AWCON, they failed to win the crown after facing the Super Falcons of Nigeria in three finals (1998, 2002 and 2006).

                Things got rough when they failed to make it to the knock out stages of the competition in 2008, 2010 and 2014. They failed to qualify for the 2012 AWCON.

                100 per cent of the squad comprises of players plying their trade at home. According to Coach YusifBasigi the Black Queens will have no difficulty in gelling the squad.

                With an average age of 22 years, the game of the Black Queens will definitely be concentrated on attacking and mounting pressure upfront with pace.

                However, lack of experience will be their bane.

                Pooled in Group B in Limbe they face Kenya on November 20, Nigeria on November 23 and Mali on November 26 all in Limbe.