Queens Win 2-1

The senior women's national team, the Black Queens, yesterday qualified for the next stage of the Olympic Games when they beat their Angolan counterparts 2-0 at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

The victory completed a double, having won the first leg encounter 2-1 a fortnight ago in Luanda to make an impressive 4-1 goal aggregate.

Two strikes by Florence Okoe in the 36th minute and Yaa Avoe, 80th minute, sealed qualification for the Ghanaians who had the luxury of playing the last 10 minutes a numerical advantage after the Angolan skipper, Veronica Lando, was sent off for a second bookable offence.

The Angolans came in strongly soon after kick-off as the two teams started the game on a fast note, but the Queens remained on top.

The Angolans mounted a barrier in defence with Patricia Antonio, Rita Montario, Lydia Lubano and Domingas Silva giving the Queens close marking to prevent disaster.

Josefa Coaspar who was the sole attacker upfront also gave the Queens defence some hectic time but Hamdya Abass, Yaa Avoe, Olivia Amoako and Ibrahim Aminatu combined effectively to prevent her from causing havoc.

The Queens came close to scoring in the 25th minute when Abdul Safia Rahman combined beautifully with Anita Amankwa upfront and entered the vital area of the Angolans but Safia's drive was pushed to corner which was wasted.

A minute later, Florence Okoe also had a bright chance to open the scores, but after beating a defender she found to her dismay that her shot had missed the post by inches.

But moments later Florence atoned for the miss when she profited from a beautiful move between Rumanatu Tahiru and Safia Abdul-Rahman and after controlling the ball into the vital area slotted it home for the opener in the 36th minute.

Both teams made a series of changes with the Queens replacing Doreen Awuah with Anita Amenuku while Lydia Ankrah and Shilla Okine also replaced Rumanatu Tahiru and Safia Abdul-Rahman respectively.

The Queens were to capitalise on their numerical advantage to increase the tally in the 85th minute when Yaa Avoe's drive zoomed straight into the net before the Angolan goalkeeper could react.

Story by George Ernest Asare

& Samuel Duodu, Sunyani