2019 Women's WAFU: Black Queens To Face Nigeria In Semifinals

Revenge will be on the minds of the Super Falcons of Nigeria when they slug it out with their fiercest rivals, Ghana’s Black Queens, on Thursday at the Stade de Parc des Sports in Abidjan in the semi-finals of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B tournament.

The two sides set up a semis clash for the second successive year after Ghana finished second in Group A with seven points while Nigeria topped Group B with nine points.

On their way to winning the maiden WAFU Cup last year, Ghana defeated their sub-regional rivals on penalties in the semi-finals and as if by design the two sides meet again in the penultimate round.

The African champions, Nigeria have displayed a strong appetite for goals so far, having scored 22 goals in their last three games and conceded just one, whereas the Ghanaians have scored just eight goals.

However, Black Queens coach, Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo, remains confident her team are ready to repeat last year's feat as they seek to retain the trophy.

Despite her confidence in winning Thursday’s clash, the coach indicated that she would have preferred to lock horns with the Nigerians in the final on Saturday instead of the penultimate round.

"My wish was to meet Nigeria in the final. Ghana versus Nigeria matches are similar to games between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko; both teams are evenly matched so it would have been a great final,” she said.

Meanwhile, Group B runners-up Mali will take on the hosts Cote d'Ivoire in the other semi-final tie at the same venue in what is also a repeat of last year's semi-final showdown.