African Games: Falconets to rekindle Ghana rivalry in final

Nigeria’s women Under 20 side, the Falconets will face the Black Princesses of Ghana in the final of the Women’s Football event of the 13th African Games going on in Ghana, www.aclsports.com reports.

The Falconets, coached by Christopher Danjuma continued their imperious form in the tournament by dispatching stubborn Uganda 2-0 in the first semi-final game decided at the Cape Coast Stadium, venue of the women’s football event.

The Queen Cranes from Uganda frustrated the attacking line of the Falconets led by Rivers Angels’ Motunrayo Ezekiel for the most parts of the game. Breakthrough however came sixteen minutes from time when substitute Adaobi Okah scored to give Nigeria the lead.

Another substitute Chiamaka Okwuchukwu made the game absolutely safe on the dot of 90th minute with the game’s second goal as she sent the Falconets into Friday’s final as they bid to successfully defend the gold medal they won in 2019.

In the final, Nigeria will face their eternal rivals Ghana for a chance to win the competition’s Gold Medal on Thursday evening at the same Stadium.

To reach the final, Ghana defeated another West African side Senegal 3-1 in the evening game in a largely comfortable one-sided contest in Cape Coast.

Tracey Twum fired the Black Princesses in front in the 16th minute when she poked home a cross from the right from close range. The goal came after Ghana had been denied on a couple of occasions by the Senegalese goalkeeper.

Ghana made it two in first half stoppage time when Ophelia Amponsah latched onto a ball over the top to finish into the bottom right because Senegal halved the deficit from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute through Rokhyatou Kande.

Amponsah swiftly restored their two goals cushion two minutes later, firing home on the turn after Tracey Twum’s effort came off the cross bar.

The final match will hold at the same venue on Thursday evening, starting from 8:00pm local time, 9pm in Nigeria.