Berkane, Morocco – Na here dem dey flex muscles as Ghana and Mali go battle for West African bragging rights today, July 11, 2024, at 5 PM local time. The Black Queens of Ghana don dey face wahala after dem lose their first match 0-2 to South Africa. Na serious matter o!
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren don gather im girls, ready to change the narrative. “We want to win every game,” e talk, as dem dey prepare to hit the pitch. E no be meat pie wey go just fall from the sky, but Ghana sure say dem sabi wetin dem dey do. But abeg, dem gats convert those chances when dem drop on top dem head, no be to dey hit crossbar like say dem dey play basketball!
Despite the bitter experience against South Africa, Ghana don comot for that match with some positive statistics. Dem shoot 13 times, two more than South Africa, and dem get four corners. But as dem dey smile, dem gats also remember say na the goals wey count for the scoreboard. Björkegren dey talk sense, say, “We need to stay cleaner in the box.” (Clean box no be your mama’s kitchen o!)
On top the second half of the game, Ghana suffer penalty wey Linda Motlhalo carry enter for South Africa, and before dem fit blink, South Africa don add another goal. This na wetin dey chop dem concentration, and dem gats fix am sharp- sharp before the match against Mali.
Dem dey welcome back assistant captain Jennifer Cudjoe, wey no fit play the opener. Her presence dey like golden spoon for jollof rice; she go fit help the midfield balance as dem dey chase victory. “We gats do am for our fans back home,” she said, calm like morning sunshine.
Mali dey come with confidence too, dem no wan lose chance to shine. Dem get sharp shooters like Saratou Traore wey don score before, and with plenty plans on ground, e go make sense if dem fit score against Ghana. Houssein Salloum Mohamed, Mali coach, dey talk say, “Our first win don give us mental edge.”
This go be the fifth time wey these two teams go dey clash for WAFCON. Ghana don win three times before, but na dat 2018 match wey dem lose for home dey chop dem like pepper soup. Mohamed wey don dey joggle this team since 2017 dey ginger e players say, “We wan replicate dat success,” and dem dey prepare like dem be warriors wey dey ready for battle.
For Mali, first clean sheet and win at WAFCON dey motivate dem to carry fire enter today’s game. Four out of six of dem WAFCON wins don happen during second group matches, so dem dey eye the win wey go push dem enter quarterfinals. If dem fit take Ghana down, e go mean big win for dem.
