Head coach of Ghana’s National Under 20 Women’s Football Team (the Black Princesses) Yussif Basigi has admitted that his team’s struggles against Ethiopia in its opening game in the 13th African Games, was not surprising.
He said this in a post game interview after Ghana beat Ethiopia 1-0 to open its campaign in the African Games that is being hosted by Ghana for the first time.
Comfort Owusu scored the winner in the second half after slotting the ball into the net after striker Mukarama Abdulai’s shot attempt off was parried away.
The game was halted for almost 30 minutes due to a blackout at the Cape Coast Stadium that generated a lot of headlines regarding Ghana’s unstable power situation; an issue former Minister of Youth and Sports Nii Lante Vanderpuye highlighted before the start of the African Games. (Click highlighted text to read full story)
However, in his address to the media, coach Basigi acknowledged the toughness of Ethiopia’s team saying, “Ethiopia that I know, they are not a bad side so I anticipated that we will have a tough match and I’m not surprised we struggled to beat them”
“This is our first game and I know the subsequent matches is going to be different.”
Ghana ended the game with 10 players following Abiba Musah’s dismissal in the 89th minute; the Black Princesses take on Tanzania on Tuesday, March 12 at the Cape Coast Stadium.
Dumsor at Africa games: The lights at Cape Coast Stadium went off in the 36th minute amidst Ghana's U-20 inaugural match against Ethiopia in the women's football tournament.
Power has however been restored#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/Vcfib83lxY
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) March 9, 2024