The opening ceremony of the Total African Women’s Cup of Nation in Ghana (AWCON), a flagship continental women’s championship, is scheduled to take the centre stage from today, Saturday 17th of November to 1 December in Accra and Cape Coast.
The host nation Ghana, together with Algeria, Cameroon and Mali make up Group A whilst title-holders Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Equatorial Guinea are in Group B.
Undoubtedly, over the next coming three weeks the conversations are going to be dominated by the biggest women sporting event in Africa with the Nigeria’s Super Falcons coming onboard with a record of 9 wins, and counting. Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand has won the tournament twice in 2008 and 2012. South Africa’s Banyana Banyana who have been runners up on four occasions, the Black Queens of Ghana (three times runners up) and Cameroon (three-time finalists) have a chance to wrestle the crown from Nigeria; but it certainly won’t be a walk in the park.
Commenting on the start of the tournament, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Hon. Freda Prempeh, noted that all necessary arrangements have been done to ensure that Ghana pulls off a “fantastic Tournament.”
According to her, the tournament promises to be one of the best in the history of Women’s football in Africa. “We are so much prepared for the tournament as we are ready to pull off a big surprise by serving football lovers with the most exciting women’s tournament in the history of the game in Africa,” she said.
She noted that the opening ceremony will witness some exciting moment that will live forever in the minds of football lover in Africa. She further charged Ghanaian to come in their numbers to support the women’s tournament, stating that “WE CAN DO IT”.
The Black Queens will open their AWCON campaign when they face Algeria with Zambia battling Equatorial Guinea a day later in Cape Coast.
The 11th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations will run from 17 November- 1 December in Accra and Cape Coast. The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France.