Ghana’s Black Queens were defeated by a goal to nil against Zambia’s Copper Queens at the Accra Sports stadium yesterday in the first-leg tie of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Racheal Kundananji’s lovely chip settled the game in a raucous Accra sports stadium, leaving the return leg in Ndola on a knife edge.
The black queens, who had previously lost just once under the stewardship of Nora Hauptle prior to kick off, started the game on the back foot.
Zambia played the more enterprising football and were deservedly ahead after 18 minutes when Racheal Kunandanji — the most expensive player in the history of women football, raced through on goal before producing a deft finish as she dinked the ball over Ghana’s goalkeeper Victoria Antwi Agyei, who was off her line.
Zambia perfectly executed the tactical plan of their coach Bruce Mwape to perfection, as they sat back, soaked the pressure and hit Ghana on the break.
The game plan was even more evident after the recess when the copper queens were played off the park, with the black queens dominating possession and looking to score anytime they went forward, but the defensive rearguard of Zambia stood tall.
Ghana’s Doris Boaduwaa came closest in ensuring parity with a well-worked free kick at the edge of the box, but her ferocious drive was tipped onto the post by Zambia’s goalkeeper, Catherine Musonda.
Nora Hauptle and Ghana would take positives from their second half performance as they showed grit and determination, dominating aerial duels, winning lose balls and constantly making attacking incursions.
The return leg is set to be played on February 28, 2024, with the winner of the tie setting up a date with either Tunisia or Morocco in the last round of the qualifying series for a place in the summer’s Olympic Games.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo | univers.ug.edu.gh
