Mumuni Gamel, coach of Ghana’s Black Queens, who arrived Nigeria with his 18-member playing squad on Wednesday for the final 2008 Olympic Games qualifier against the Super Falcons on Saturday in Abuja is determined to return to Accra with the ticket to Beijing, China.
Although the Ghanaian coach is not unmindful that the tie could be difficult for his girls who need just a draw to berth at the summer Games, he however, remains unshaken in his determination.
“We have run them close for many years so we will go to Abuja on Saturday determined to get what we want. We want to make history because the girls know that Ghana always qualifies for the African championships but beating Nigeria is the one barrier we have been unable to break down,” Gamel told the Ghana FA website before leaving Accra Wednesday morning.
The Black Queens hold a hundred percent record in the qualifying campaign after defeating Nigeria at home and recording back-to-back wins over South Africa.
But Super Falcons’ midfielder Effioawan Ekpo who is aiming to make her second Olympic football appearance believes totally in the ability of the Nigerian team to overcome Ghana.
“We are leaving no stone unturned in our bid to ensure that we not only beat Ghana on Saturday, but also to win the match very well. So we will do everything within our power to win the ticket,” stressed the defensive midfielder who scored three goals in Nigeria’s 13-1 crushing of hapless Namibia en-route to tomorrow’s final game.
She, however, admitted that the Falcons would not take the Ghanaians for granted. “They will be tough opposition, but right now we are ready to take apart any team that comes even close to us.”
The runners up of the three-team group will still have a chance of making it to Beijing when they play Brazil in a play-off for a place in the finals of the 2008 Olympics.
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