Black Queens coach Yussif Basigi has said his charges will go tough on the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, when both clash in the final round of qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Basigi admits the Black Queens, attempting a median qualification to the Olympic Games’ task has been made extra difficult as a result of their opponent’s recent fine spell at the just ended Women World Cup (WWC) in Canada, but insists his team stands resolute.
“Cameroon will be tough. There is no doubt about that and I know that. But we will be tougher on them. We know that to be the only choice we have; to go into the match tougher in all departments.â€
He told GNA Sports that “We have put our paces together very well and we are ready. I saw all their matches at the World Cup and they were impressive. If they had not been at the World Cup, we may not have seen how good they have become.
“For us, that is a big motivation to seek results off them. Who knows, if we had also been to the World Cup, we may have even surpassed their effort because we also have the quality. We must emulate them and this is the time.
In 2012, Cameroon dashed the Queens’ hope of a debut appearance at the London Olympic Games, having held the latter to a one-all first leg fixture in Accra before wrapping up qualification with a lone win in Yaoundé in the reverse match.
Basigi aware of the challenge that confronts his team said that “We are self motivated to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time. It is good we are termed the underdog because when we come out of it we will get some respect.
“We want to prove a point and we know the time to do so is now.â€
The Indomitable Lionesses beat Switzerland and Ecuador at the group stage at the World Cup to progress to the last 16 despite losing to Japan to set up a meeting with former champions, China who won by a lone goal to advance at the expense of the Africans.
The Queens will be without Elizabeth Addo who has traveled to Nigeria to chase greener pastures but Basigi insists the return of Samira Sulemana and Linda Eshun will up their quality.
“Linda and Samira have just joined the team which is good news because we planned with them in mind. We have also been joined by Fatia Dramani who is getting on track and that is good news for our quality.
The match is fixed for Yaoundé on Saturday.
Source: Ghana News Agency