The coach of Ghana’s Black Queens says his team are all but ready to take on the continent as the eighth African Women’s Championship kicks off in Namibia in two weeks’ time.
According to Coach Yussif Basigi, his 25 players in camp currently preparing for the tournament are ready and just about peaking at the right time.
He, however, conceded that a tour of Japan last week exposed the weaknesses of his team and that would engage his attention as they round up their preparations.
“Before going to Japan, I thought the team was ready. However, conceding five goals against the Japan side exposed our weakness: “Taking time to settle and we also need to work on our attack to be sharper,” Coach Basigi told the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview.
He said since the team returned from Japan, they had undertaken two cooper tests to monitor the condition levels and he is satisfied with the results.
“No team can be 100 per cent ready. That can only be assessed when the tournament kicks off. However, from what we have done tactically and technically, our preparation is on course. We have planned our programme such that the girls will peak just in time for our first game on October 12 against Algeria.
“We are going to play more low profile trial matches at home and then play just one high profile match against hosts, Namibia, in Windhoek in our final trial match next week.”
He noted that his players were aware that only 21 of them would eventually make it to the tournament; hence there was strong and healthy competition among the players in a determined bid to make it into the final squad.
“At this point, everyone knows that no place is secured. We have set out our strategy and ambition for Namibia 2014. Only the players who fit in that strategy will make it in the final squad of 21. From what I see, everyone wants to make it and they are challenging themselves in our training sessions,” Coach Basigi revealed.
Coach Basigi is expected to prune his list to 23 as he releases his provisional list by this weekend and then name the final 21 on October 5.
The Queens are also scheduled to leave for Windhoek on Friday to round off their preparations for the tournament which they are eager to win for the first time.
Ghana will be among eight nations vying for the title and one of the three slots for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada.
They are in Group B with Algeria, South Africa and former champions, Cameroun as the other group members.
